Steamed broccoli served with olive oil and a dash of lemon juice
Broccoli was never a hated vegetable in our house. No one cringed when it was served. No one pushed it around on their plate until they could slip it to the dog (not that we had a dog). We simply ate it, because we loved it. Seriously. And our parents only ever served it one way, steamed broccoli served with olive oil and lemon.
It wasn’t until we were older that we realized that broccoli is a very versatile vegetable, lending itself to salads, to being roasted, to being eaten raw with a dip! All delicious ways to enjoy one of our favourite vegetables, but we’ve gotta say…our most favourite is still the way our parents have always made it, and the way that we think most Greeks do as well. Steamed broccoli, drizzled with a healthy dose of the best olive oil, some fresh lemon juice and a sprinkling of sea salt. Broccoli really can be a beautiful thing.
Helpful hints
Steaming broccoli to make broccoli with olive oil and lemon isn’t hard, but you do need to have the equipment to do it. If you have a pot with a built in steamer, perfect! If you do not, you can always improvise one if you have a sieve or colander which can fit into a pot, hovering over some water (you don’t need much) and which can then be covered. Alternatively, you can also find a steamer basket; usually a collapsible kitchen gadget that is used to steam veggies.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to speed up the cooling process by running cold water over your steamed broccoli. The broccoli flowers are delicate, and the pressure of running water will damage them; plus, your broccoli will end up getting water logged. Simply let it cool down a bit naturally before serving.
Don’t forget to serve the stalk! In our family, it is the part of the broccoli that some of us prefer.
If you would like some more super, simple recipes for super delicious greens…check these out!
Broccoli with olive oil and lemon (Μπρόκολο με ελαιόλαδο και λεμόνι)
Equipment
- Steamer basket
Ingredients
- 1 broccoli
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare your broccoli by separating the flowering head from the stalk. Cut the head into large pieces. Use a vegetable peeler or a vegetable knife to remove the outer parts of the stalk and then cut the stalk into 1 inch pieces. Rinse your broccoli well under cool running water.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. This should be a special steamer pot, or a pot which allows you to fit a steamer basket into it, and which can then be covered. Place your broccoli into a steamer basket and steam, over medium heat, for approximately 7 minutes.
- Remove the broccoli from the steamer and allow it to cool. When cooled, transfer to a serving platter.
- Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the broccoli and then, immediately before serving, squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the broccoli. Alternatively, you can serve the lemon on the side for people to add as they wish. Top with sea salt.
- Enjoy!
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