There are always bags of broccoli in our freezer. I'm partial to the Whole Foods 365 Organic. It's usually in good shape and the florets are a nice size. When we get tired of salad or can't find any interesting vegetables in the market, we reach for the broccoli. Our favorite preparation is a steamed spicy broccoli that is inspired by one my Aunt Lucy used to make when I was growing up. I add a generous amount of olive oil to a pot with sliced garlic and whole anchovies. Once the garlic has browned and the anchovies have disintegrated we add a healthy spoonful of bottled "bomba" sauce or a good shake of crushed red pepper. Then we add the still frozen broccoli, season with salt, give it a good stir, and let it steam in the pot over medium heat until it is tender. I stir it every so often as it softens, and add more salt as needed. It takes about 20 minutes and the resulting broccoli is earthy and spicy and delicious. The crushed red pepper is what Aunt Lucy used and adds a nice heat. The bomba sauce adds an extra layer of flavor with spice and tang, that rounds out the sweet broccoli flavor, the nutty garlic, and the salty anchovies to perfection. Of course now that we have Italian XO, I'll have to see how that works in the next batch.
Years Past
January 20, 2005
Ideas in Food: Great Recipes and Why They Work
Maximum Flavor: Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook
Gluten Free Flour Power: Bringing Your Favorite Foods Back to the Table
