How To Make Steamed Broccoli

Steamed broccoli can is a quick, easy, healthy-side dish recipe that can be ready in minutes. We will show you how to make steamed broccoli perfectly so it's not soggy on the stovetop. With ways to make fresh steamed broccoli taste better and what seasonings will help in doing that.

This healthy way of enjoying fresh broccoli will become your favorite way to serve this simple side dish. There are so many ways that this healthy vegetable can be prepared today we are going to talk about steaming.

Okay confession time, I have served my family soggy broccoli before. This must be why one of the kids isn't a broccoli fan. However, long since the days of serving them this veggie soggy again.

I owe that in part to one of my new saucepans that came with a steamer basket. Keeping the fresh veggie out of the boiling water is key to avoiding a soggy vegetable.

How To Make This Recipe

There are so many creative ways to make broccoli and serve it. Mixing it into casseroles is one great way of enjoying it alone as a side dish. This is one of those vegetables I like to have prepped ahead of time so I can either add into a recipe or serve it alone.

The first step in preparing broccoli is to cut it into florets. I try to make sure that they are about 1-inch florets. Having them all about the same size will help to ensure that they all cook evenly.

The next step is to add water to the saucepan and get it to a full boil. The amount will depend on how big your saucepan is and the type of steamer basket you are using. A steamer basket I feel is key to making the perfectly steamed broccoli that isn't soggy.

The saucepan that I use came with a steamer insert so it kind of sits on the saucepan. This allows me to use about four cups of water in the saucepan.

However, if you are using a steamer basket you will want to make sure that the basket isn't sitting in water while in the saucepan. About 1-inch of water in the saucepan will work with this type of steamer basket.

Once the steamer basket is in the saucepan cover it with a lid. The lid will help to trap the steam thus helping steam the vegetable. You will want to continue boiling the water even with the lid on. If you are using less water than I did you may want to watch to make sure the water doesn't evaporate.

I like to serve broccoli with a bit of crunch to it but not a lot. I have found that five minutes of cooking like this gives me perfectly steamed broccoli. Some people like more crunch and find that four minutes of steam time works. Whereas others like it with no crunch so six minutes of steam time works.

So I would say cook time anywhere from 4-6 minutes depending on your preference.

Seasonings

There are many ways to season broccoli to make it taste even better. A healthy way would to be to season it with pepper and a bit of fresh-squeezed lemon juice. The lemon juice will bring out the bright green color of the broccoli florets.

One of the ways I like to serve it is with a bit of herb garlic butter on top. Of course, the butter isn't healthy but it does add a lot of flavor to the steamed broccoli.

A lemon vinaigrette would bring even more added flavor. Or sprinkle the freshly cooked broccoli with a bit of salt and garlic powder. Then there is of course topping it with melted cheese.

Steamed broccoli makes for a great healthy side dish on its own or add it to the top of a baked potato.

My Creative Manner is answering the question "what's there to eat" with simple recipe creations ~ Jen

Other My Creative Manner recipes you may enjoy are:

• Buttered Noodles
• Buffalo Tater Tots
• Beef Ramen Noodles
• Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
• Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
• Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Peanut Butter No-BaKe Cookies
• Scotcheroos Recipe
• How To Organize A Pantry
• Broccoli Cranberry Salad With Bacon