Are you supposed to boil broccolli before it is served?

Answer 1

You can, but then you've got boiled broccoli. Steam it instead, with a steaming insert in your pan and cook until it is just tender. You can buy an insert in the supermarket - it's that funny thing that fold up like a flower and has holes in it like a pasta drainer. The water should come up to just the bottom of the steamer so none of the veggies are submerged.

You can microwave it also - put a little water in a covered dish and give it 2-3 minutes depending on your microwave and how crunchy you like it. I don't like many things microwaved, but broccoli works great!

Answer 2

For crudite (raw for salads) Just blanche it....bring salted water to a boil then immerse cleaned and trimmed broccoli for about 1 minute, then remove and plunge into an ice water bath. This leaves it green and crisp but takes away that bitter raw taste.

For dinner/lunch just steam it. Place trimmed, cleaned broccoli in a steamer insert over boiling water. Cover and steam for 3 - 7 minutes or until it reaches the doneness you prefer.

Of course, you can eat it raw as well.

For the microwave just wrap a trimmed, cleaned and WET broccoli head in microwave plastic wrap, seal well and palce seam side down in the microwave oven. Cook on high for 4 - 8 minutes. The plastic will blow up like a balloon. Test the broccoli for doneness you prefer.

Answer 3

Dont boil it! it will get mushy. you should steam it.

the way i do it is put it in a shallow glass dish, like a baking dish, put about a 1/2" of water in the bottom of the dish and cover with plastic wrap.

cook one head of broccolli for 5-7 min in the microwave. when it is tender but still a has some crunch, drain the water and toss it with butter (lots) and salt and pepper.

It is so good with ranch dressing on it.

My roommate east broccolli raw with ranch too. i think its gross.

Answer 4

Depends on who is eating it. Some people prefer it raw, some like it boiled, some like it in a casserole, and others will not touch the stuff. I personally like broccolli raw.

Answer 5

Broccoli can be served fresh without any cooking in a veggie platter or salad. Broccoli can be boiled but steaming is better - less nutrients lost in water & texture is less mushy.

Answer 6

Depending on how your going to eat it you can wash it and serve it with ranch dressing on a veggie platter. And if its in other foods like pastas soups or as a side veggie then yes you can boil it to your desired cripness.

I like to put in the last few minutes while my pasta is still cooking and gets this amazing bright green color
and its perfect with alfredo sauce and chicken

another variation is steamed with butter,cheese and salt and pepper.

Answer 7

The best way to serve broccoli is to steam it. Boiling removes most of the nutrients and you end up with mushy broccoli.

Answer 8

Raw for a salad or crudite; steamed, if you want it cooked. Boiling will take away all the natural goodness of veggies.

Answer 9

It can be eaten raw, it won't hurt you. I prefer mine steamed crisp tender. When you boil it it loses nutrients into the water & you boil away the appetizing dark green color.....

Answer 10

Raw is wonderful, steamed is more nutritious than "boiled". Boiled just makes it mushy, flat and flavorless!