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How To Season Broccoli

Perfectly seasoned, crisp and bright green is how we LOVE a Broccoli recipe. Finding the perfect spice blend can be a challenge, but you’ll be able to do it perfectly when I show you how to season broccoli! 

A blue bowl of broccoli with fork in foreground

Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy
  • Fast 
  • You probably have everything you need in your pantry already.

Here’s How It’s Done

STEP 1. Cut Fresh broccoli into florets. These should be roughly bite size pieces.

broccoli layed out on parchment paper on baking sheet

STEP 2. Put the broccoli florets into a small sauce pot and cover with water.

green vegetable in a stock pot boiling on stove eye

STEP 3. Add seasoning, butter and salt and pepper to water. Put over medium heat. Stir frequently, if the water evaporates just add more.

saucepan with water vegetable and butter

STEP 5. Add lemon and soy sauce to the broccoli. Toss to coat. 

A close up photo of a bowl with towel in background

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What Can I Add to Broccoli To Make It Taste Better? 

To make broccoli taste better, you’ll want to add LOTS of flavor! You do this by amping it up with…

  1. Salt/ Pepper – helps overcome the bitter and add an interested element
  2. Red Pepper – To add a KICK! 
  3. Lemon Juice – Gives the final dish some acid. 
  4. Soy – Adds Umami which is overall flavor! 

You can season your broccoli by ……

Want to season your broccoli? You can always think of broccoli as the base and then go for flavor groups like…

  • Indian Seasoned Broccoli – Add a healthy dose of cumin, ginger, salt and butter. Delicious! 
  • Asian Flare Broccoli – Sesame oil, ginger and garlic with a dash of red pepper!
  • Mexican Broccoli Anyone – Salt, Chili powder, cumin and Coriander! 

What Can I Put On My Broccoli?

Try some of these for a great taste sensation…

  • Melted Cheese
  • Roasted Broccoli
  • Steamed Broccoli
  • Garlic Salt
  • Butter

How Should I Cook My Broccoli? 

You can ….

  • Steam, 
  • Roast, 
  • Stir fry, 
  • saute or even 
  • grill broccoli. 

How To Season Frozen Broccoli? 

Just add the seasonings mentioned in the recipe, spices, butter, salt, pepper, lemon juice and soy sauce. You could also add garlic salt. 

Try our recipe for How to Cook Frozen Broccoli and you won’t be sorry!

What Can I Serve With This Dish? 

Serve your Seasoned Broccoli with….

Can I Freeze Broccoli? 

Yes, blanch it first and then put broccoli in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.

How Long Is It Good For? 

This broccoli, once cooked is good for about 5 days in the refrigerator. 

Don’t allow to sit out for more than 2 hours

Bowl with a patterned blue bowl in the back ground

Tips and Tricks for How To Season Broccoli

  • When cutting the broccoli, you’ll want to use mostly the heads and not the stalks. Stalks can be pretty fibrous and unappetizing. 
  • Cut the broccoli into bite sized pieces so that you won’t have to cut so much when you are eating. 
  • Try adding more or less of the particular spices that you like.
  • It’s important to have a balance of fat, salt, heat, acid and umami which all makes the broccoli taste better. 
  • Want to know more about broccoli? The USDA will hook you up! 

If you Enjoyed This Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy…

How to Freeze Broccoli

How to Boil Broccoli

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Opposite Salad

bowl of broccoli

How to Season Broccoli

We LOVE a Broccoli recipe that is perfectly seasoned, crisp and bright green is the BEST with a delicious fresh dinner! It can be a challenge, but you’ll be able to do it perfectly and I’ll show you how to season broccoli!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to season broccoli
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 131kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 head of broccoli
  • ½ cup of water plus more as needed.
  • 3 Tbs Butter
  • ½ tsp Kosher Salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 Tbs Soy Sauce
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Cut the broccoli head into florets and place into a sauce pan. Pour the water over the top.
  • Add the butter (just plunk it on top).
  • Add the salt, pepper, red pepper by sprinkling over the top.
  • Set the stove on medium and heat the broccoli, stir frequently. If the water evaporates, add more by the ½ cup full. This method of cooking mostly steams the broccoli.
  • Cook for about 10 minutes or until the broccoli is the level of crunchiness that you prefer.
  • Turn the stove off and add the soy sauce and lemon juice, stir well. Serve hot.

Notes

  • While cooking the broccoli, you may need to add more water, have it on stand by and ready to pour into the pan.
  • People like their broccoli in varying levels of doneness. If you like yours more crunchy, then cook less, if you like yours more done, then cook more.
  • If you don’t have lemon juice, use the same amount of cider vinegar instead.
  • You can substitute Braggs liquid aminos for the soy sauce.
  • It’s fine to use the low salt soy sauce.
Substitutions:
  • If you use a bag of precut broccoli heads, that is fine too. Just try to estimate the amount for one head of broccoli. If you use more broccoli, you’ll need to increase the other ingredients. It’s fine to eyeball these measurements.
  • Its fine to substitute margarine or a butter substitute for the butter.
  • If using regular table salt, cut the amount in half and sprinkle well overall.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Season Broccoli
Amount Per Serving
Calories 131 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 23mg8%
Sodium 673mg28%
Potassium 490mg14%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1283IU26%
Vitamin C 136mg165%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A VERSE TO SHARE

In Isaiah we find what Isaiah saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the last days. We certainly aren’t there yet, are we? 

Isaiah 2:4

He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




VANESSA

Sunday 10th of September 2023

I was expecting it to be salty and i was surprised by hou tasty it was!loved it!

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 12th of September 2023

Glad you loved it!

De Reiger

Thursday 19th of March 2020

Wow,i know that every one loves to eat broccoli,but its true that we have to wait until the day when it can be harvested.Thank you for letting us know.

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 19th of March 2020

Thanks De. Enjoy

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 5th of March 2020

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