Slightly sweet, crunchy, and bitter flavor, broccoli has herbaceous and earthy taste with bright green color. It can be served cooked or raw depending on the recipe and desired outcome.
Prepare broccoli in various cooking techniques including boil, deep-fry, sauté, steam, and stir-fry. Similar to brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale, the cabbage vegetable group requires certain food pairing to enjoy the maximum flavor and enhance the available nutrients.
What to eat with broccoli? Broccoli tastes the best when cooked with unsalted butter, cauliflower, cheese, green chili peppers, garlic, lemon juice, mustard or mustard seeds.
Furthermore, broccoli can be added on pizza, omelettes, pasta, salad, and sandwiches. From hearty soups for dinner to egg dishes for breakfast, broccoli florets and stalks are enjoyable at any time of the day.
Simply raw or steamed broccoli is often served with creamy cheese dip as an appetizer or healthy snack idea to fulfill hunger after a workout or midday between meals.
Broccoli salad, pasta or cheese soup are common, but have you tried throwing broccoli into stir-fried rice? Or better yet, blitzing it into pesto sauce, then adding a savory, zippy sauce to pasta?
Well, if you haven’t tried these classy combinations, then here are more ways to get the most out of broccoli.
What goes well with broccoli?
Whether eaten raw or cooked, broccoli tastes best when paired with the right foods. Broccoli can be added to a salad or eaten raw as an appetizer with a dip on the side.
Pair broccoli with other vegetables, nuts, cheese, herbs and spices.
Cooked broccoli is excellent when served with butter, lemon, or a cheesy sauce. It’s also great when added to soups, Asian foods, stews, and pasta dishes.
Try serving broccoli with cauliflower or masala for a savory meal. Additionally, it goes great with breakfast because it’s a terrific complement to quiche or omelets.
Here are fantastic foods to pair with broccoli:
- Nuts: almonds
- Herbs: basil, cilantro, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, thyme, tarragon
- Spices: coriander, ground pepper, red pepper flakes
- Dairy: unsalted butter, cream
- Seeds: caraway
- Vegetables: carrots. cauliflower, chili peppers, green onions, scallions, shallots, garlic, ginger
- Condiments: hollandaise sauce, mustard, salt, vinaigrette
- Fruits: lemon
- Cheese: cheddar, feta, goat, mozzarella, parmesan, swiss
- Oil: peanut, sesame, olive
- Rice: basmati
- Vinegar: balsamic, red wine
What meat to eat with broccoli?
Whether broccoli is used in casserole dish or stir-fry, choosing the right meat is important step in cooking. Lean meats complement perfectly with broccoli because they are more susceptible to combinations with sauces, spices and condiments.
What main dish goes with broccoli?
Steamed broccoli with a little unsalted butter and course salt is an easy way to serve a quick side dish. However, roasting or shaved broccoli is great in a salad that makes an excellent pairing for a main dish.
Regardless of cooking techniques, here are main dish ideas that goes with broccoli:
- pasta
- soup
- risotto
- pizza
- casserole
- rice dish
What flavor goes well with broccoli?
While many people are not fond of the laid-back taste of broccoli, adding chives gives an intriguing complexity to the combo. Additionally, a hint of black pepper will embolden the grassy-like taste of broccoli and garlic or ginger will add heat and citrusy notes without overpowering the initial flavor.
Don’t forget to add lemon zest to give it that robust, bitter taste. Tarragon brings a sweet yet peppery taste in one package, enhancing the classic tastes.
Here are classic flavor combinations that taste well with broccoli:
- broccoli + anchovies + capers + red pepper flakes + garlic + olives
- broccoli + anchovies + lemon
- broccoli + sun-dried tomatoes + garlic + lemon
- broccoli + garlic + lemon juice + olive oil
- broccoli + garlic + tarragon
Eat with Broccoli: Conclusion
Broccoli is more than a simple, laid-back side or main course. From hearty stir-fries to cozy soups and meats, broccoli can transform a basic meal into an exotic dish.
You can never go wrong with broccoli since it’s pretty versatile, easy to prepare, and an affordable ingredient. It is excellent in pasta, stews, and rice dishes too.
Cook with butter, cheese, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice for simple side dish to pair with main dishes such as pasta, pizza, soups, risotto, and casseroles.
When protein is your primary concern, try broccoli with chicken, eggs, bacon, steak, salmon, and shrimp.
This plain broccoli vegetables has mild flavor that allows herbs and spices to pair together easily. Use the flavor combination and cooking techniques in this guide to eat broccoli with your favorite ingredients.