Servings: 6 Prep: 5 min Cook: 5 min Total: 10 min
Food isn’t complicated. People make it complicated.
Broccoli is delicious, all on its own. It’s a little sweet, with a great texture and a bright vibrant greenness that just screams “I’M A VEGETABLE!!!”. There are so many recipes that are mixes and blends of a wide variety of vegetables, commonly known as “medleys”. Some have fruits and nuts mixed with, with heaps of spices and herbs.
Properly cooked broccoli, with a little salt and fresh butter can be a WONDEFUL side dish to just about any meal! Yes, you can add a million things to this, but … that kills the point. Yes, a little garlic and lemon zest would be delightful. Yes, some toasted pecans, orange zest and a few chopped dried cranberries might be interesting. Broccoli smothered in Goopy Alfredo sauce sounds inviting. Bacon, a whisper of mustard, a sprinkle of rosemary and some roasted mushrooms also sound great, but …
… sometimes the broccoli wants to be the star.
Note: I’m a big fan of broccoli stems. When you cut the florets off of the large broccoli trunk, you’re left with something that looks like what the Jolly Green Giant might use for lumber, if he were a very very small giant. Cut off the bigger branches, then with a vegetable peeler, peel the hard fibrous skin on the outside. You’ll eventually get a a beautiful, bright, almost white green core. This is the “broccoli heart” and it’s delicious! Cut the center core into pieces about the same size as the florets and cook it right along with them. Enjoy!
Simple Buttery Broccoli
Print RateIngredients
- 1 large bunch broccoli including stalks, cut into florets
- 1/4 cup fresh whole butter (half a stick) cut into small cubes
- salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, place your cubed butter. Allow it to soften, while you cook the broccoli.
- Steam or cook the broccoli in salted boiling water. If you do steam it, dust it with a little salt prior to being added to the steamer. Cook until tender, then remove and strain out any excess liquid.
- Add the hot broccoli to the fresh cubes of better and toss the bowl around, coating the broccoli with fresh melted butter. Add a little salt and pepper to the broccoli, as you move it around the bowl.
- Serve!
STANDARD FTC DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please note, I only ever endorse products that are in alignment with my ideals and I believe would be of value to my readers.
* Learn More: More about this recipe and nutrition …
‘add to fresh cubes of better’?? 😀 <3 sounds delish and yes, LOVE the heart of broccoli stem!
thank you for all the amazing recipes. I usually dont like broccoli on its own this was great,I sprinkled it with garlic salt.
I LOVE your style of writing. Who would have thought that brocolli had a heart.I’ll be hunting for it next time. I love the simplicity of this recipe – brocolli and butter, the perfect love story. I am sharing this one with my readers for sure! Thnx!
Thanks, Celeste! You know … I have no idea if that’s ever actually been referred to as the heart. I just couldn’t think of anything better to call it. The broccoli stem-core doesn’t have quite the same zing to it! In any event, I’m glad you like it! And … thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Doesn’t broccoli have a high carbohydrate count?
Hi Cindy!
That’s tricky to answer in that the answer is largely “compared to what?”. This recipe, as written, contains about 5 1/2 net carbs per 4 oz. (112g) portion. That’s certainly A LOT lower than a chocolate chip cookie, but quite a bit more than an egg. If you’re doing something like an induction diet (less than 20 net carbs per day), 5 1/2 net carbs is pretty high. However, if you’re on maintenance or doing something like a paleo or primal diet, it’s not an issue. I personally don’t consider it to be a terribly high carb count, but that’s just me and how I use it in my own diet. You may have far stricter requirements, at which point… I may agree with you. The trick is really determining what’s too high for you. For me? It’s fine. For you? You’d have to tell me more!
I hope this helps! 😀