I love my job! I get to learn new things all the time. For
example, we all know that broccoli is good for us, but did you know
that the different parts of the broccoli plant each make their own
unique contribution to its overall nutritional value — and that
nearly all parts of the plant are edible? Yes, even the
leaves…
Nutritionally, the florets contain more beta-carotene than the
stalks, but the leaves actually are a richer source of
beta-carotene than either the stems or florets. The stems have a
mild sweet flavor and are much higher in fiber than the florets.
You’ll likely need to peel off the tough outer layer of the stems
before cooking or eating, but it’s worth the extra 30 seconds this
process takes!
My research into cooking broccoli leaves yielded some
interesting information. While I didn’t find many “recipes,” there
were quite a few blogs from folks in San Francisco, New York,
Florida, and Australia with great suggestions on preparing the
leaves.
One gal raved on about briefly boiling (3 minutes) the very
large leaves and using them like she would to make stuffed cabbage.
Another person finely chops the leaves and adds them to soups and
sauces. Many commented on how they basically treat broccoli leaves
like spinach, sautéing them with olive oil, shallots, etc. and
serving them as a side dish or over pasta.
The recipe I think I’ll try had them sautéed lightly and then
topped with bacon bits and Parmesan cheese — similar to a hot
spinach salad. Sounds yummy! If you get adventurous and discover a
great way to use the leaves, please e-mail me at
karendonaldson@cableone.net. I’ve got lots of leaves in my
garden!
Karen Donaldson, MS, RD, LD is a registered dietitian, personal
trainer, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner who
specializes in helping people lose weight and keep it off. She can
be reached at EXCEL Weight Loss Solutions at 233-0593.
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The Idaho State Journal invites you to take part in the community conversation. But those who don't play nice may be uninvited. Don't post comments that are off topic, defamatory, libelous, obscene, racist, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. We may remove any comment for any reason or no reason. We encourage you to report abuse, but the decision to delete is ours. Commenters have no expectation of privacy and may be held accountable for their comments. Comments are opinions of the author only, and do not reflect the opinions or views of Idaho State Journal.