It’s ideal as a side dish, perfect as a veggie tray idea or for bowl meals, and it doubles as the first step of freezing broccoli to preserve it for later. Ready to get started? This handy method can be used for many vegetables, like asparagus, green beans, and more. It’s great for making raw broccoli more palatable: our kid doesn’t love it raw but gobbles it up when it’s blanched. It’s great for veggie trays, or in green salads or pasta salads.
Prepare the water: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Chop the broccoli: Cut the broccoli into medium florets. How long to blanch broccoli? Add the florets to the boiling water and cook for 2 ½ to 3 minutes, until just tender but still bright green (taste a floret to assess doneness). Place in the ice bath. Right when the florets are tender, remove them from the boiling water with tongs and transfer them to the bowl of ice water. After 2 minutes, remove them to a colander to drain. Season. Add salt, or use in recipes as desired.
Place the blanched broccoli on a baking sheet in a single layer. This way, the broccoli doesn’t freeze into a solid block. Freeze for 2 hours until the florets are solid. Place the broccoli in a freezer safe container or storage bag. It lasts for up to 6 months frozen (or more, but it’s best within a few months).
Easy side dish: Throw the broccoli in a skillet with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then squeeze with lemon before serving. Veggie tray: Use blanched broccoli on a tray with raw veggies and Veggie Dip. Green salad: Add it to green salads like a simple Tossed Salad. Pasta salad: Add it to Classic Pasta Salad for a little green. Bowl meals: Throw into bowl meals like Easy Power Bowls, Hummus Bowls, Quick Burrito Bowl, Simple Salmon Bowl or Easy Grain Bowl.
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