Frozen broccoli. Broccoli with cheese mousse

It is no exaggeration to say that broccoli dishes are not universally loved. But in vain! Few people know that broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables for the human body. The reason for the dislike for this variety of cabbage is, most likely, the banal inability to cook it. The thing is that the taste of broccoli directly depends on how well you boiled it. Let's see how much to cook frozen broccoli?

The composition of broccoli includes a huge amount of minerals:

• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• zinc;
• iron;
• vitamins C, PP, K, E.

In addition, broccoli is rich in such elements as fiber, fats, proteins, and vitamin C in it is 1.5 times more than in some citrus fruits. It also contains the beauty vitamin beta-carotene. There are only 34 calories in 100 g of broccoli, so it is a real find for women on a diet. In general, there are more than enough reasons to include this vegetable in your diet.

In order for all the beneficial qualities of broccoli to be preserved, in the cooking process you need to follow only one rule - do not overcook it. Boiling time for fresh broccoli and frozen broccoli is different.

Cooking broccoli in a pot

To properly boil this vegetable in frozen form, you need to follow a few simple tips:

• it is not necessary to defrost broccoli before cooking, otherwise the inflorescences will lose their shape and, when ready, will look more like gruel;
• throw broccoli into boiling salted water;
• from the moment the water boils, boil the vegetable for no more than 10-12 minutes.

Speaking about the duration of boiling cabbage, you need to consider the size of the inflorescences. That is, the larger the inflorescence, the longer we cook.

Cooking broccoli in a slow cooker

Broccoli can be easily boiled in a slow cooker. In this case, the duration of the process will be 10 minutes. Before boiling, it is better to disassemble large inflorescences, and cut the thick stem into smaller pieces.

There is one secret in boiling broccoli cabbage: in order for the inflorescences to retain their beautiful color, immediately after cooking, it is recommended to lower it into cold water.

Read also:

The season for fresh broccoli falls in the middle of summer, and you want to use this vegetable all year round. It is for such cases that it can be frozen for the winter. Of course, now it’s not a problem to buy an already frozen vegetable in any store, but experienced housewives say that broccoli prepared for the winter at home is much tastier.

So, you need to freeze broccoli as follows:

1. Choose good, fresh and crunchy cabbage to freeze.
2. Rinse the vegetable, carefully remove dirt, leaves, spoiled areas.
3. Divide the plant into inflorescences and place for 20-30 minutes in a saline solution (5 tsp of salt per 1 liter of water). This treatment helps to get rid of insect larvae, which are not visible to the naked eye.
4. Remove the florets from the brine and rinse with running water.
5. Fill a saucepan one third full with water and bring to a boil.
6. Dip the broccoli in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, and then immediately plunge it into cold water.
7. Spread out the inflorescences and let them dry completely.
8. Divide the prepared broccoli into portions and place in airtight bags, close tightly and put in the freezer.

Ready! If the whole process is done correctly, then in winter you can diversify your diet with a truly tasty and healthy product.

How to boil frozen broccoli, we figured it out. However, this cabbage can not only be boiled, but also cooked from it puree soups, original salads, used as a side dish for the main course, etc.

There are many delicious and unusual recipes with this vegetable that will appeal to the most spoiled gourmets, for example:

• in a cheese omelet;
• broccoli salad with orange;
• tiger prawns with broccoli;
• broccoli cabbage salad with apple;
• broccoli soufflé;
• cream soup of broccoli with shrimps.

Isn't it impressive? And you can serve broccoli with sour cream, mayonnaise, meat, fish or as a main dish.

It is important to know that when baking or frying frozen broccoli, you need to defrost it just enough so that you can separate the inflorescences from each other.

It is unlikely that today there will be a person who would be indifferent to broccoli - a healthy, nutritious and tasty vegetable. If you own and grow broccoli yourself, then why not take advantage of your freezer and store this product for the winter? Of course, fresh vegetables can always be purchased at the supermarket, but grown in your own city, they have all the beneficial properties and do not contain chemicals.

frozen broccoli

How to freeze broccoli for the winter at home? The answer to this question will be discussed in detail in this article. Knowing all the intricacies of the process, you can complement your dish with bright, beautiful broccoli florets.

How to freeze broccoli - where to start?

If you have never used frozen vegetables, you will certainly be surprised by the simplicity and ease of use of such products. You don't have to worry about keeping them in the fridge for a long time, because the vitamins and minerals stay in place. What dishes do you add broccoli to? Most often these are soups, sauces and side dishes. The bright green color of the vegetable will decorate your dish, giving it a spice.

To properly freeze broccoli, it is important to follow some rules:

• . In order for the product to be stored in the freezer, it must be properly selected. Look for tight blooms that are free of damage, rot, spots, and yellowing areas. Also, the product should be bright green.

Use only healthy vegetables for freezing

• . Like any product before freezing, broccoli also needs to be processed. To do this, divide the cabbage into small inflorescences, removing small leaves. This is not at all necessary, since many housewives specially leave leaves and use them for cooking. Divided inflorescences should be lowered into a bowl of water and allowed to stand for a while. After that, you can rinse the broccoli under running water and fold it on a towel.

washing broccoli

• We destroy invisible larvae and nitrate residues. If you buy a product on the market, there is a good chance that it has been treated with special chemicals and nitrates. To get rid of them, use a well-known method - salt water. To do this, water is poured into a small bowl and 5-6 tsp are added. salt. Everything is thoroughly mixed. Broccoli is dipped in saline for 1 hour. After that, the vegetable must be washed in cold water.

Destruction of invisible larvae

• . Why Boil Broccoli? This is necessary in order to destroy the substance that interferes with the preservation of the taste and smell of the product. Small broccoli florets are dipped into boiling water for 2 minutes. But the most important moment is yet to come - you need to quickly cool the product. For this, the inflorescences are poured into a colander and lowered into ice water.

Blanching

Broccoli freezing process

In order not to forget exactly when you froze the product, it is important to stick a note on it about it. It is allowed to store broccoli in the refrigerator for no more than 1 year, otherwise the vegetable will begin to deteriorate. So, now you know how to freeze broccoli for the winter in at home. We hope that our tips will be useful to you.

The article will provide tips on cooking broccoli, the most simple and delicious recipes for dishes with broccoli will be given.

Everyone is familiar with this kind of cabbage, like broccoli. But many bypass it, preferring other types of products. The thing is that few people know how to cook this vegetable deliciously. Many are confused by the specific smell of this cabbage.

Broccoli is a versatile product that can be boiled, baked, fried and stewed, and also used as an additive to salads. Among other things, this type of cabbage is very useful. By learning how to cook broccoli correctly, there will be one more useful product on your menu.

How to cook broccoli properly?

There are several universal tips that will help you cook broccoli deliciously and quickly.

• Broccoli is sold in stores in two types: fresh and frozen. Frozen cabbage can be purchased in any season, but it contains a little less nutrients.
• A universal way to cook cabbage is to boil it. It is a mistake to boil broccoli for a long time. So she not only loses her vitamins, but also acquires a soft texture. Don't be afraid to undercook broccoli, especially for salads.
• Boiling time for broccoli is 5 to 10 minutes. If you are using a frozen product, you can slightly increase the time
• Broccoli can be steamed. So it will retain even more useful properties.
• The peculiar smell of cabbage quickly disappears when cooled.
• Boiled broccoli can be used as a side dish or added to salads along with other vegetables.
• Also, there are many recipes where broccoli is fried and baked.

Rules for cooking broccoli

• Broccoli is a vegetable that can be consumed even raw. It has no harmful substances for the human body. Broccoli is boiled only to soften
• Boiled broccoli should not fall apart. It can be a little crunchy on the teeth, but still be soft.
• You can boil broccoli only if you are going to cook mashed soup
• Kale florets cook much faster than hard stalks
• The optimal time for cooking broccoli is 5 - 10 minutes
• In order to cook broccoli, you need to prepare it: wash and cut off the inflorescences. Then boil and add a little salt to the water. Throw prepared cabbage into boiling water. After cooking, broccoli should be thrown into a colander

Braised broccoli recipe

If boiled broccoli is usually used as an addition to dishes, then baked broccoli can become an independent side dish. It is good to combine it with protein foods: fish or chicken.

This recipe is tasty and healthy at the same time, and it is also a great dish for those who are going to lose weight. After all, vegetables have a minimum of calories and a lot of useful fiber. Add less vegetable oil to make the recipe dietary.

• We will need: broccoli, onions, garlic, carrots, asparagus and any other vegetables you want (such as zucchini or eggplant), tomato paste, salt and spices
• We prepare vegetables, cut broccoli into inflorescences, onions in half rings, three carrots on a grater. Cut other vegetables into cubes
• Pour a little olive or sunflower oil into a frying pan with a thick bottom. When the oil is hot, add the onion and fry until golden brown. Then, add grated carrots. frying
• Add tomato paste and some water (you can use chicken broth)
• Simmer our sauce for 5 minutes
• Add vegetables. Depending on the composition, simmer a mixture of vegetables for 10 to 20 minutes
• At the end, add seasonings: ground black pepper, spicy herbs. Salt to taste
• The cooked dish can be eaten both warm and at room temperature.

Experiment with broccoli. It goes well with sour cream and cream.

broccoli soup recipe

Broccoli soup is a tender and dietary dish that is sure to please both children and adults.

• To prepare broccoli soup, we need: broccoli, chicken breast, carrots, onions, cream 10%, herbs and salt
• First, prepare the broth: put the breast into the water and cook until tender. Then take out the breast
• Boil the broccoli separately for 15 minutes.
• Cooking frying: heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onions and carrots
• In a blender, carefully grind the broccoli, then the chicken fillet and fried vegetables
• Add the prepared puree to the broth, bring to a boil. Salt and add spices. Also, pour 200 ml of low-fat cream
• Before serving, puree soup can be decorated with herbs.

Broccoli with cheese recipe

Broccoli goes great with cheese. The best way to prepare such a dish is to bake it in the oven.

• To prepare broccoli with cheese, we need: broccoli, hard cheese, eggs, cream, salt and spices to taste
• We prepare broccoli, cut the cabbage into inflorescences. To cook the dish faster, broccoli can be boiled for a couple of minutes.
• We prepare the cheese filling: beat the eggs with a whisk, add the grated cheese, cream and a little salt. Mix thoroughly
• Place the broccoli on a baking sheet and pour over the cheese mixture.
• We put in the oven, preheated to 180 degrees for 20 minutes. The dish should turn out with a slightly ruddy cheese crust.

How delicious to cook broccoli with egg?

The combination of broccoli and eggs is a healthy and tasty combination. There are many options for combining these products.

• In a salad. Broccoli goes well with almost all foods. You can make a simple salad: broccoli, eggs, boiled sausage and canned corn. Broccoli must first be boiled and cooled. You can fill the salad with low-fat mayonnaise
• The egg is often used in baking. A good recipe is casserole with broccoli and cheese (given above)
• Another easy recipe is broccoli omelet. This recipe can be a great breakfast option for the whole family. To use broccoli as an addition to an omelette, it must also be boiled.

Broccoli cabbage in batter, recipe

Fried broccoli in batter is not only very tasty, but also looks very impressive. Such a dish can be a decoration of any feast.

• We will need: broccoli, eggs, flour, salt and spices to taste. Also vegetable oil for frying.
• Cooking cabbage in batter is very simple. First, prepare the broccoli - cut it into small pieces and boil in water for 5 minutes
• Then prepare the batter: beat the eggs thoroughly, add salt and spices. Then gradually add flour, the batter should get the consistency of thick sour cream
• Pour vegetable oil into the pan and wait for it to heat up. Dip the cabbage in the batter so that it evenly covers the inflorescence. Put the cabbage in the pan and fry on all sides.
• Broccoli in batter can be served hot or cold. This dish is an excellent side dish for meat products.

Broccoli and cauliflower casserole in the oven, recipe with photo

Another interesting casserole option, this time with broccoli and cauliflower.

• To prepare the casserole you will need: broccoli, cauliflower, hard cheese, cream (sour cream or mayonnaise), eggs, salt and pepper to taste
• We prepare cabbage: we divide each into inflorescences and boil for several minutes. Cool down
• Lubricate the bottom of the baking sheet with oil and place the cabbage in it
• Prepare the filling: beat the eggs until smooth and mix with cheese and cream. Add salt and spices
• Pour the cabbage with the resulting mixture and put in a preheated oven for 20 - 30 minutes. Appetizing cheese crust should form on the dish

How to cook broccoli with mushrooms?

• Broccoli with mushrooms can be a great addition to an omelet. Mushrooms must be fried until cooked, then add a little boiled broccoli. Salt and pepper a mixture of vegetables, pour over eggs and fry under the lid
• Mushrooms can also be added to broccoli casseroles or vegetable stews. Mushrooms must be fried first as they take longer to cook than broccoli.
• Mushrooms and broccoli go great in salads. To do this, you can use not only fresh, but also pickled mushrooms.

Broccoli Salad Recipes

• Salad with broccoli and chicken breast. To prepare it, we need: boiled breast and broccoli, corn, sweet pepper, salt. We cut all the ingredients into small pieces and add salt. You can use mayonnaise or unsweetened yogurt as a dressing.
• Broccoli salad with marinated champignons. We will need: boiled broccoli and potatoes, champignons, herbs and onions. We cut all the ingredients, mix and season to taste (mayonnaise, yogurt or sour cream)
• Broccoli and apple salad. For this salad you need: broccoli, apples, lemon and unsweetened yogurt. Salad turns out spicy and unusual
• Broccoli and asparagus salad. This salad turns out to be very satisfying, for it you need: boiled broccoli and asparagus, egg, cheese and pickled mushrooms. We cut all the ingredients and season with low-fat mayonnaise

• Broccoli cabbage is a versatile product, it can be boiled, fried, baked and stewed.
• The main rule for cooking delicious cabbage is not to overcook. To do this, follow the time frame by cooking broccoli for up to 10 - 15 minutes
• Broccoli is considered the healthiest type of cabbage. And not casually. It contains vitamins of groups B, A, E and C. Also, broccoli has a lot of calcium, iron, copper and sulfur. Broccoli is rich in protein and fiber. It is low calorie and nutritious at the same time.
• Broccoli goes well with any food. It will be a useful side dish or snack.

Video: Cooking broccoli correctly

Now the season of fresh vegetables is in full swing, so do not forget to prepare for the winter - delicious health benefits in the markets are still worth a penny, and there are a maximum of vitamins in them. This time we will talk about an excellent product of the pp-list - delicious, dietary cauliflower, or rather, how to freeze cauliflower for the winter correctly at home.

Cauliflower and PP

In general, there are hundreds of ways to prepare cauliflower for the winter, freezing is almost the only one that is suitable for adherents of PP. Preservation, especially with vinegar, sugar, does not fit into the principles of proper nutrition.

After freezing, almost all vitamins and minerals remain in the vegetable. Also, low temperatures do not affect the taste, smell and appearance.

Just imagine - outside the window is frost, snow, and you have prepared delicious mashed potatoes, a delicious omelette, or even! Beauty indeed!

By the way, another reason why I always have cauliflower in the freezer for the winter is that freezing this vegetable makes it possible to diversify the list of low-calorie foods so well. Calorie content is only 25 kcal per 100 g!

The fact that regular consumption of cauliflower prevents beriberi, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and even malignant processes (there is a unique substance in this fruit), I will not say anything, let the more experienced tell about the benefits and harms. Here is a short educational video:

Freezing according to all the rules: choose and prepare

So, how to freeze cauliflower? It would seem that there is something complicated - I cut off the inflorescences and put them in the freezer. But no, the selection and preparation of cauliflower for freezing is very important:

• only dense, fresh specimens of white or slightly cream color are suitable;
• ideally, the heads should be “hidden” in the leaves, but just the presence of small leaves is already good - it is easy to determine freshness by them;
• the younger the kachanchik, the juicier and tastier it is;
• if there are even a few dark spots on the inflorescences, do not take it, this is rot, which will very quickly hit the entire head. Well, or immediately cut out these areas and freeze.

The initial preparation of cauliflower is simple:

1. remove the leaves, disassemble into inflorescences, rinse. The optimal size of the “piece” is 2-3 cm;
2. pour cold salty water for 20 minutes (about 1 tbsp of salt per liter) so that the insects, if there are any, crawl out;
3. rinse again and dry on towels or in a sieve (colander).

Let me remind you that everything related to cauliflower - how to freeze, how to prepare - is quite applicable to broccoli

.

Which freezing method to choose

Inexperienced housewives and pp-shnikov always have a lot of questions related to the process of freezing this vegetable - is it necessary to blanch the cauliflower before freezing or is it better to cook, how to freeze the cauliflower so that it does not darken and lose its taste, how to make it so that remove the unpleasant smell of boiled vegetables ...

I'll tell you right now - no dancing with tambourines is needed in this matter! Everything is logical and understandable.

There are few recipes for freezing cauliflower for the winter - already boiled, blanched or raw inflorescences are sent to the freezer.

Each method has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Freeze raw. Is it possible and how?

Freezing raw cauliflower or broccoli the fastest way to prepare for the winter but it has a lot of downsides. After defrosting, the vegetable will still have to be boiled, and the taste may deteriorate. This especially often happens if the freezer or refrigerator is without the No Frost system and antibacterial protection. Places raw will take a little more.

The process can be described in two sentences:

1. prepared (washed, dried) inflorescences are poured into a bag;
2. send to the shelf in the freezer.

You can freeze, first laying it out on a board, and then already packing it in a bag. It is convenient to do this if you prepare vegetable mixtures, combining, for example, with zucchini, carrots, green peas - an excellent ready-made basis for delicious soups and stews is obtained.

Freezing boiled cauliflower

This recipe is considered a classic.

It is convenient, simple and understandable - before you freeze cauliflower or broccoli in the freezer, you need to cook it.

Then it is easy to use this already welded one.

What you need:

• water - 3 l
• salt - 2 tsp
• citric acid - 1\3 tsp

How to do:

1. Boil water in a deep saucepan, add salt and acid. With lemon, cauliflower will not darken, and its taste will not change.
2. Prepared inflorescences are sent to boiling water. How much to cook cauliflower before freezing, decide for yourself - 5 minutes is enough (it turns out more crispy). If 10 minutes - then after defrosting, you can even eat it right away, adding, for example, to some salads.
3. We throw the boiled billet into a colander, let the water drain, cool it and send it to the freezer shelves, packing it in vessels or bags.

Why do you need to boil water first, and then only lower the inflorescences? So less utility will go into the broth.

Blanching method

Freezing with pre-blanching is the best way out.

What you need:

• cauliflower - 2-3 medium heads
• water - 5-6 l
• salt - 3-4 tsp
• citric acid - 1\3 tsp
• ice is in the eye.

How to blanch:

1. The process at first resembles boiling - boil water, add salt and acid.
2. Omit the prepared cauliflower or broccoli florets.
3. But then it's different. After boiling again, cook for no longer than 3 minutes.
4. At this time, we collect cold water in a separate bowl, add ice.
5. We take out the boiled inflorescences with a slotted spoon from boiling water and immediately transfer it to cold water.
6. After 2 minutes, lay out the chilled pieces on a towel, and then freeze.

It is better to cook broccoli and cauliflower in enameled pans - their coating is inert and will not react in any way to the acids included in the composition.

It is better to store frozen vegetables in the freezer for no longer than 9 months, then both useful and taste properties deteriorate.

Frozen cauliflower doesn't need to be thawed before you cook it, unless you're going to batter it (which isn't great for casserole).

How to freeze broccoli at home

Eating fresh vegetables and fruits is the key to health and well-being. One of the healthiest foods in the human diet is broccoli. This type of cabbage is rich in vitamins and trace elements necessary for the body.

Benefits of Storing Broccoli Frozen

Fresh vegetables and fruits are seasonal and cannot be stored for a long time. By freezing broccoli for the winter, you will not only prolong the life of the product, but also be able to preserve its useful components.

This storage method has its advantages:

• frozen vegetables are compactly placed in portioned bags and placed in the freezer, which saves space in the refrigerator;
• ease of use: the frozen product has already undergone heat treatment and is completely ready for use;
• the availability of healthy vitamin vegetables at any time of the year: this benefit applies not only to the body, but also to the family budget, since in the cold season the prices for fresh vegetables and fruits are much higher.

The procedure for freezing broccoli, carried out according to all the rules, allows you to save the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals in the product, and the taste of such cabbage will not differ from fresh.

Selecting and preparing cabbage

It is best to harvest broccoli in July: it is at this time that cabbage ripens en masse and contains the maximum amount of nutrients. Ideally, it is recommended to use vegetables grown on your site or purchased from the market. Young, elastic and green inflorescences should be selected. They should not have damage, dents, yellowness or dark spots. The shelf life of high-quality frozen vegetables is 12-14 months.

Preparing broccoli before cooking

• select suitable inflorescences, rinse them in running water (the water pressure in the tap should be moderate so as not to damage the vegetables and thin out the inflorescences);
• put the cabbage in salt water for 30 minutes - this will get rid of possible insects; then rinse the vegetables in running water;
• remove hard stems and leaves with a knife, and divide the inflorescences into smaller ones.

How to prepare broccoli for baby food

Broccoli is an incredibly healthy and valuable product that is often used to make baby food. In this case, it is worthwhile to thoroughly approach the issue of selecting vegetables:

• cabbage inflorescences should have a healthy and fresh appearance, if you harvest on your own, immediately set aside young and strong vegetables;
• it is recommended to use vegetables that you have grown yourself, or purchased from a trusted seller.

If the child suffers from eating disorders and allergies, cabbage should be soaked for 2 hours before boiling and freezing.

Cooking vegetables before freezing

Before freezing, the cabbage must be blanched. The procedure is needed to destroy the oxidative enzymes contained in vegetables. Also, heat treatment will preserve the taste of broccoli and the beautiful green color of the vegetable.

Blanching broccoli in a bowl

The procedure for blanching cabbage in a saucepan is very simple:

• put on fire a large saucepan filled with water by two thirds;
• immediately prepare a container with cold water (you can add ice);
• bring the water to a boil, and place the cabbage inflorescences in boiling water for 3 minutes;
• to keep the vegetables bright green - add the juice of half a lemon to the blanching water;
• Remove the florets with a slotted spoon, and place them in ice water for a few minutes.

Then the cabbage must be laid out on paper towels and allowed to dry.

Blanching broccoli in a slow cooker

To do this, you must use the multicooker mode "steam cooking". Each portion of inflorescences must be processed for 3-4 minutes, and immediately placed in ice water.

After heat treatment, the cabbage is dried on a towel, as in the first version. For harvesting for the winter, vegetables must be dry, otherwise they will turn into an unattractive sticky mass during the freezing process.

Freezing broccoli for the winter

Before freezing broccoli at home, prepare storage containers such as zip-top plastic bags or plastic containers with lids. You can prepare cabbage for the winter using quick or regular freezing.

With a quick freeze, the already blanched and dried cabbage is laid out in an even layer on the bottom of the freezer so that the inflorescences do not touch each other. Then set the "quick freeze" mode. An hour later, the vegetables can be folded into portioned bags, removing air from them as much as possible, and placed in the freezer for long-term storage at a temperature of minus 18-20 degrees Celsius.

If your freezer does not have a quick freeze mode, you can simply divide the vegetables into portions, pack them in containers, and send them to the freezer. Broccoli is often harvested along with cauliflower, since the temperature and storage conditions are the same for them.

Freezing fruits for the winter at home is performed by analogy with vegetables. Vegetables, berries and fruits can be stored in one compartment of the freezer, sorted into separate containers or bags. Frozen food odors will not mix, even if you leave the boxes open.

How to use frozen broccoli in cooking

It is necessary not only to know how to freeze broccoli, but also how to cook them properly later. So that the vegetable does not lose its shape, color and taste, it is not recommended to defrost broccoli.

Before cooking, it is necessary to boil frozen inflorescences in salt water for 7-10 minutes. Broccoli prepared in this way can be fried, stewed and added to salads and meat dishes.

Outcome

Freeze-prepared products retain maximum benefits, and their taste qualities do not differ from fresh vegetables and fruits. In the freezer, the products do not deteriorate at all, if the norms and terms of storage are observed. This is why many gardeners who care about the health of their families prefer to freeze most of their crops rather than keep them fresh, even if possible.