Sauteed Broccoli

“I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli.”

Do you know who said that?

I have never cooked with broccoli until I came to the U.S. Broccoli is one of the healthiest foods you can think of, and is on the list of cruciferous vegetables. So I wanted to add this wholesome vegetable to our diet, possibly in Indian recipes. But it didn’t take long to realize that I can very well mess up a sambar or a vegetable curry by adding broccoli to it. I was never happy with the results.

I was just about to proclaim broccoli as a disgusting vegetable when I found out that the little finicky eaters at my home love broccoli!! They like it with salt and butter or cheese, or with yogurt dip. Kids love it means I should stock it always. That means I would end up with a few extra crowns at times. That means I have to find out a way to use it up. Some way that adults also can enjoy it...

In this recipe, broccoli is sauted with onion, coconut slices, and other spices, sort of like a Kerala style mezhukkupuratti. I cook a few other vegetables the same way too. Kovakka/Ivy Gourd, Achinga/Yard long beans, Bittergourds etc. are examples.

Heat up 1 tbsp oil in a skillet, and add the following in order:

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

Curry leaves – a few sprigs

Onion, chopped – ¼ cup(Shallots are better)

Garlic, crushed – 1

Crushed red pepper – 1 tsp, or to taste

You can use a mortar and pestle to crush onions/shallots, garlic, and crushed pepper together. Cook it on a medium-high flame until the shallots are golden brown. Then add:

Coconut slices – a handful

Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp

Cook it for one minute without burning, and add the following:

Broccoli, cut up – 1 large or 2 small crowns

Salt – to taste

Cook it until the broccoli pieces are just done. Broccoli should not be overcooked. Broccoli tastes better when it is cooked for a very less time, and when it is still a tad crunchy. It shouldn't loose its bright green color. Americans even eat it raw.

Serve as a side dish with any meals. This tastes best when served immediately. It only takes about 5 minutes to prepare so chop all the ingredients ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Cook it right before serving.

How to cut broccoli
Who said it?
Did you know broccoli flowers look like this? Pretty!!