Category: broccoli

Roman #Cauliflower? #Broccoli?

Found this beautiful looking vegetable at the EQ markets in Centennial Park, amongst the boring white caulis.

Googled when I got home and discovered it is known as a Roman or Romanesco Cauliflower.

Thanks Wikipedia: Romanesco broccoli (also known as Roman cauliflower, Broccolo Romanesco, Romanesque cauliflower, or simply Romanesco) is an edible flower bud of the species Brassica oleracea. First documented in Italy in the 16th century, it is chartreuse in color, and has a form naturally approximating a fractal. When compared to a traditional cauliflower, it has a firmer texture and delicate, nutty flavor.

Roasted it in the oven and served alongside minty carrots. Delicious nutty flavour and crisp texture, Happily high in vitamins C and K. If you’re lucky enough to find it – make sure you try it!

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#Peas, pea shoots, broccoli and feta #salad

Another easy pea-sy salad that is delicious with grilled lamb cutlets and oven baked sweet potato fries.

Weekday dinners can challenge the imagination but the addition of a yummy salad to basic meat and veg combos can really make the difference.

In this case the addition of some peas and pea shoots, along with cubed feta cubes, a splash of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon makes for a great and very healthy side dish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups or so of broccoli florets steamed or just cooked in the microwave
  • 1 cup frozen peas cooked to al dente in the microwave
  • 1.5 cups of pea shoots torn it or pieces
  • 1/2 cup feta cubes
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and cracked Black pepper to taste

Cook vegetables, combine all ingredients and serve.

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Oven roasted #beef #short ribs with corn

These beef ribs were delicious with corn and a spinach and brocccoline salad with quick pickled onions. Inspired by a friend in Brisbane who made them last night!

Prep time: 2 hours Cooking time: 3.5-4 hours

Ingredients:

Beef short ribs, trimmed – about 1kg bone in for 2 people

Spice rub: 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cummin powder, 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1.5 tablespoons olive oil

Homemade bbq marinade sauce: 1/4 cup tomato ketchup, 2 tablespoons smoky bbq sauce, 1.5 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce

Salad; Broccolini, baby spinach, 1/2 red onion, 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, salt pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil

Corn: corn on the cob, salt, water to cover, salt, pepper and a dob or two of butter to finish

Method:

1. Make spice rub, then massage well into beef short ribs, allow to marinate at room temperature for just on 2 hours (or overnight in fridge but bring to room temp before cooking).

2. Heat oven to 120 degrees celcius

3. Cover roasting pan in foil, then put another layer of foil and place ribs on it, then cover with another piece of foil and crimp edges to create a tented sealed foil package. Place in oven. (Slice half a red onion and pickle in 3 tablespoon cider vinegar)

4. Make bbq sauce and marinade/brush with bbq sauce every hour for 3 hours.

5. Uncover tops of beef, raise oven temp to 200 degrees Celsius, brush with bbq sauce and cook for 1/2 hour to melt fat on top and crisp. While finishing beef boil corn and make green salad, adding drained pickled onions. I used baby spinach and blanched broccolini with a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper.

Slow oven roasted beef short ribs

6. For last ten minutes add thyme leaves, and turn on top grill to finish cooking off top layer of fat.

7. rest beef for 10-15 minutes and serve with corn and salad!

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Roasted #Brussel sprouts, #brocollini and #pepito salad with #Tahini and lemon dressing

Roast some Brussel sprouts and slivers of garlic

Steam or microwave some broccolini

Quick fry some pumpkin seed in a tablespoon of olive oil

Add the Brussel sprouts and broccolini

Add salt to taste

Pour in juice of lemon

Mix

Transfer to salad bowl

Grind some black pepper

Drizzle over tahini paste

Enjoy

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Roast fennel, broccoli and tomato salad with rocket

Roasted, caramelised fennel has to be one of the yummiest salad ingredients. For this salad I roasted the fennel and cherry tomatoes, adding the broccoli toward the end so it was just tender and tossed with fresh rocket leaves. Delicious with Butterflied Prawns with garlic and chilli 

Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium size fennel bulb
10 cherry tomatoes sliced in half
1 head of broccoli
2 cups fresh rocket leaves
olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
salt and black  pepper

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celcius
2. Cut off top of fennel bulb and slice into half, then into thirds
3. Halve the cherry tomatoes or leave whole if they are really small
4. Remove hard stalk of broccoli and cut into florets
5. Place fennel in roasting pan lined with baking paper
6. Smear fennel with some olive oil and place in oven for 10 minutes
7. Add cherry tomatoes cut side up and drizzle some olive oil over them.
8. Sprinkle salt over fennel and cherry tomatoes.
9. Return pan to oven for another ten minutes
10. Add broccoli to pan and roast until just tender. By this stage the fennel and tomatoes should be tender, well roasted with signs of caramelisation, leave for few more minutes if you need to.
11. Place baby rocket in salad bowl.
12. Put roasted vegetables with roasting juices and oil over rocket, squeeze over lemon juice, add salt and ground black pepper to taste and toss gently.

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Broccoli and Green Beans with garlic, anchovies and onion 

This recipe brings together a classic combo of flavours. A quick and easy way to add flavour and bite to your greens. This is an excellent accompaniment to grilled steak and roast dinners.  I used special Tricana brand Portuguese anchovies rolled with capers for this version, but just ordinary anchovies will do fine. You can omit the capers, add chilli flakes, or add roasted almond slivers, and/or finish with lemon zest. Any or all of these additions would be just as delicious and quick! 

Prep time: 15 minutes  Cooking time: 8-10 minutes

Ingredients:
200g green beans (top and tailed)
250g broccoli florets
8-10 anchovies
2 teaspoons capers(optional)
1/2 onion sliced thinly
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 tablespoon olive oil
Ground Black pepper 
Parsley to garnish 

Method:

Steam or microwave beans and broccoli until just tender (al dente) – should be bright green! Set aside.
Slice onion thinly
Crush garlic
Heat olive oil in pan, then add onions and cook over medium heat until translucent, add garlic and heat through until fragrant, add anchovies (and capers if using) and mix through onion garlic mixture until some of the anchovies “dissolve”.


Add broccoli and beans to pan and heat, turning to coat vegetables in onion mixture and allow flavours to meld with vegetables.


Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve warm as a side dish.

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