Broccoli stir fry

Broccoli is a lovely vegetable that is grate to eat and can look very attractive on a plate. If cooked properly the lovely green that it gives and the height to the vegetables is fantastic.

First you need to cook it properly. Take your broccoli and remove all the flowering sprigs from the main stalk. But do not throw the stalk away; I will come to them latter.

Now get a pan and add some lightly salted water and heat on the stove. You want to wait till you have a rolling boil. When at a rolling boil add the broccoli and cook for a few seconds. Then take out of the water and in to a pan of cold water to refresh or on to the plate and eat straight away.

My favourite way to use broccoli after blanching is in a simple stir fry.
500g/1lb Broccoli pre blanched
1tsp Fresh garlic
1tsp Fresh ginger
¼tsp Red chillies
1tsp Lemon juice
1tbsp Sesame oil

Now if you are going to blanch your broccoli then only do it for a few second , in fact you do not really want to cook it at all just start to cook them out and in to cold water . This way it will be lovely and green.

Put your wok on to heat, when it is hot add the oil then the garlic ginger and chilli for a few seconds. After that add the broccoli. Make sure that it is well drained as you would not like to get burnt as you add it to the hot oil. Rapidly stir for a few seconds and finally add the lemon juice to temper the heat from the chillies and straight in to a bowl and serve straight away.

Now as for the stalks never throw them away. They are brilliant for soup and you can also cut them very thin and cook them as well as the broccoli.