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A close-up of a fork holding a piece of bright green, steamed broccoli, with more broccoli pieces blurred in the background.

How To Perfectly Steam Broccoli (Microwave and Stovetop Method)

Learn How to Perfectly Steam Broccoli with this easy tutorial. It makes the perfect healthy side dish or veggie to use in a saucy stir-fry!
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Prep 5 minutes
Cook 3 minutes
Course Sides
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 207 kcal

Ingredients

Steamed Broccoli

  • 1 head of broccoli

Instructions
 

Steamed Broccoli (stove top)

  • Cut the florets (top flower-like bit) away from the stem. Slice into bite sized pieces. Use a peeler of knife to cut away the woody exterior of the stem and slice into discs about 1cm thick. Rinse well under water.
  • Fill a saucepan with steamer basket and lid about 1/3 of the way with water. Bring to a gentle boil on high heat.
  • Add the broccoli to the steamer basket and place on top of the saucepan. Place the lid on top and steam for 5-6 minutes. The broccoli will turn bright green! To test of the broccoli is cooked, pierce with a fork, it should go through with some resistance. The more you cook the broccoli, the softer it will become. The less, the crispier.

Steamed Broccoli (microwave)

  • Prepare broccoli as instructed above. Add to a large heatproof bowl and pour 3 tbsp of water on top. Cover with a plate and microwave on high for 2 1/2 - 4 minutes until you can pierce it with a fork. Take care when lifting the lid away as it will be hot and will expel a lot of hot steam. Use oven mitts or a towel.
  • Serving suggestion: serve broccoli with some butter (olive oil is a healthier option), salt and pepper and a dash of lemon squeezed on top. This broccoli is also perfect for adding to stir-fries right at the end.

Notes

To prepare - Cut the florets (top flower-like bit) away from the stem. Slice into bite sized pieces. Use a peeler of knife to cut away the woody exterior of the stem and slice into discs about 1cm thick. Rinse well under water.
Storage - Broccoli can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to three days.
Nutrition - is based on per serving. This will typically serve 4 people as a side or in a stir fry.
A note on measurements - all ingredients in this recipe are offered in Australian cup measurements and weight measurements. Weight measurements are created by me, in my kitchen here in Melbourne Australia. The best way to get recipe success is to measure ingredients by weight, using kitchen scales.

Nutrition

Calories:207kcal | Carbohydrates:40g | Protein:17g | Fat:2g | Saturated Fat:1g | Polyunsaturated Fat:1g | Monounsaturated Fat:0.2g | Sodium:201mg | Potassium:1921mg | Fiber:16g | Sugar:10g | Vitamin A:3788IU | Vitamin C:542mg | Calcium:286mg | Iron:4mg
Keyword basics, steamed vegetables, Vegetables
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