Yes, you can have restaurant-quality, perfectly bright green steamed broccoli at home and impress your family or guests. This easy recipe is fast, and foolproof!
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This simple veggie side dish of steamed broccoli goes great with ALL the main dishes! Topped with just a hint of butter, sea salt and pepper, it's naturally fresh flavor brings any lunch or dinner to life.
Did you know?
Broccoli is considered a prebiotic vegetable, meaning that it contains specialized types of fiber that help feed beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. Prebiotic vegetable fibers also provide food for the beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods such as miso and kimchi, so consuming both types of foods can be a win-win for gut health.
I love serving this broccoli side with fish, steak or chicken such as this simple pan seared salmon, this Parmesan chicken or this walnut and herb crusted chicken. It's also a fantastic side for baked tempeh, tofu or other vegan dishes. And if you'd like a little more punch to this side, try topping with this lively garlic aioli sauce, this easy miso sauce or this delicious miso butter; they're all delicious!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Takes just 10 minutes to make
- Only 2 ingredients required, plus a little salt and pepper
- Easy recipe for everyday cooking
- Super versatile side; pairs well with almost any main dish
- Kid-tested and approved!
🌿 Ingredients
Broccoli is obviously the star player in this side dish, and the fresher the better! And feel free to substitute butter for olive oil; both options are great.
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
First, wash the broccoli and cut it into florets that are sized to your liking. I prefer mine on the smaller size so that you can easily pick up each one with a fork, but feel free to chop larger pieces if you'd like. The cooking time will be the same either way.
To steam, fill a medium pot with an inch of water and place the broccoli florets into a steamer basket inside the pot. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil. Then, steam the broccoli for about 4-5 minutes or until it just turns bright green (don't over steam!)
Pro tip: If you don't have a steamer basket, add the broccoli directly to the water, cover and boil for about 5 minutes or until bright green, and then drain.
Steaming broccoli in the microwave
To make steamed broccoli in the microwave, place the broccoli and 2 tablespoons of water in a covered microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for 2-4 minutes depending on the power of your microwave. Be careful when removing the dish and cover after steaming as they will both be hot!
Lastly, place the broccoli into a large mixing bowl and add a little butter (or oil) and salt & pepper. Give it a good toss to coat well.
📋 Substitutions
As written this butter steamed broccoli recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian. Feel free to substitute olive oil for butter to make it vegan and dairy-free.
📖 Variations
Here are a few quick flavorful variations you can try, or feel free to add your favorite seasonings!
- Spicy - sprinkle with a dash of red chili pepper flakes
- Garlicky - mix some garlic powder in along with the salt and pepper
- Buttery - add extra butter to taste
- Lemony - squeeze some fresh lemon juice over your broccoli just before serving
And a couple ways to add some additional veggies to this side dish:
- Steamed broccoli and carrots - slice a few carrots diagonally and add to the steamer basket along with the broccoli (use a bit less broccoli if space is an issue)
- Steamed broccoli and cauliflower - use half a head of both broccoli and cauliflower and follow the rest of the recipe as is
🔪 Equipment
Here is the equipment you'll need to make steamed broccoli:
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- medium pot
- steamer insert (optional, but recommended)
🍱 Storage
Steamed broccoli will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or up to 2 months in the freezer.
🎉 Top tip
Steaming broccoli is a super fast process, so make sure you stand by watchfully as your broccoli steams so that you can remove it just as it turns bright green. That way, you'll retain as much of the fantastic crunch, nutrition and color as possible. 🙂
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
Fresh broccoli should be steamed for 4-5 minutes to ensure firm cooked and bright green broccoli. If you prefer softer, more tender broccoli you can steam for an additional 2-3 minutes.
The best way to steam broccoli is by using a steamer basket inside a covered pot on the stove, filled with about an inch of boiling water. You can also steam broccoli directly in a pot with a little water, or in a covered dish in the microwave with a little water.
Yes; you can steam frozen broccoli instead of fresh. There is no need to defrost it first, but you may need to add an additional 1-2 minutes of steaming time depending on the size of the florets.
Steamed broccoli pairs well with a little butter or olive oil and some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can also add additional seasonings and flavors such as garlic, lemon, Parmesan cheese, red chili flakes or balsamic vinegar or glaze.
🍳 Recipe
Perfect Steamed Broccoli
Equipment
- steamer basket optional, but recommended
Ingredients
- 1 large head broccoli
- 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter or olive oil for vegan/dairy-free
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep: Wash the broccoli and cut into florets.
- Steam: Fill a medium pot with an inch of water and place the broccoli florets into a steamer basket inside the pot. Cover, bring to a boil and steam for about 4-5 minutes or until the broccoli just turns bright green. See notes.
- Mix: Place the broccoli in a large mixing bowl, add the butter (or oil) and salt and pepper and toss to coat.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately, and enjoy! Leftover steamed broccoli will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Notes
Storage: Steamed broccoli will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Mark
Thanks for your blog, nice to read.