Broccoli: You absolutely must not throw away the stems

Broccoli is rich in powerful antioxidant compounds, including sulforaphane, polyphenols, glucosinolates and the mineral selenium. In addition to its antioxidant properties, broccoli also contains considerable amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber, and is an exceptional source of carotenoids beneficial for eye health.

Broccoli is a valuable source of vitamin C. Half a cup covers nearly 70% of the recommended daily intake. In fact, broccoli contains nearly 1.7 times the amount of vitamin C available in the same amount of oranges. Vitamin C is another powerful antioxidant that can help your body fight inflammation. As it brings benefits to our immune system and helps it fight infections. Broccoli has a number of health benefits that your body can take advantage of from the very first consumption of this green vegetable.

Never throw away the broccoli stalks!

Don’t throw away the stems the next time you cook broccoli. Broccoli stalks may not be the main attraction when you buy a head of broccoli at the grocery store, but they are actually delicious on their own. When prepared correctly, broccoli stalks can be transformed into a delicious and flavorful vegetable dish.

Here are some ingenious ways to incorporate broccoli stalks into your diet:

1. Vegetables soup :

Vegetable broth is where storing all your vegetable discards comes in handy. We tend to throw away a number of parts of various vegetables including the leaves, stems and roots, all of which can be stored in place and used to make vegetable stock. This broth can be added to soups and noodles to increase the nutritional value of these dishes. Add whole broccoli stalks to boiling water. As well as stems and leaves of other vegetables such as spring onions, red and white onions, cabbage and cauliflower. Simmer over low heat so that all the nutrients seep into the water. Filter this water and save it to use as a broth in a number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

2. Stir-fried vegetables:

Broccoli stalks can be simply sautéed in a pan with other vegetables such as bell peppers, chili peppers and broccoli or cauliflower florets. You can add these sautéed vegetables to your bowl of cooked quinoa, bulgur, khichdi, noodles, etc. Or eat them with roast chicken breast. The options are endless.

3. Add them to soups:

Broccoli stalks can also be added to clear soups. Just as you add carrots, peas, sweet corn and other vegetables. Take a good sharp knife, remove all the small growths from the stem and cut them into small pieces. Then just throw them in the pan to cook them with your vegetables.

4. Add them to salads:

The raw food trend is on the rise and if you love salads, you can add extra nutrients to your coleslaw by adding a few chopped broccoli stalks. Broccoli stalks can be added to cold and hot salads. It’s especially healthy for those with a strong taste for raw vegetables.

5. Cook them with the florets:

The broccoli stalks are prepared with the florets. By cooking them either by steaming them, or by incorporating them into a soup or an Indian-style vegetable curry (Sabzi). To make broccoli soup, simply add the stems to the soup, mashing them, for an extra healthy kick.

6. Eat them raw:

Broccoli stalks can be cleaned, cut lengthwise and eaten raw with the sauce of your choice, like carrot sticks.