Yes, you can have restaurant-quality, buttery steamed broccoli at home and impress your family or guests. This easy side dish recipe is fast, and foolproof!
🌿 Ingredients
Feel free to substitute olive oil for butter to make this dish vegan and dairy-free; either way is delicious!
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.
Next, 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!
And lastly, place the broccoli into a large mixing bowl and add a little butter (or olive oil) and salt & pepper. Give it a good toss to coat well.
💭 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 covered 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
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prep: Wash the broccoli and cut into florets.1 large head broccoli
- 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.1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper
- 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.
Nutrition
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.