Sautéed Broccoli (Healthy & Easy)
Incredibly simple and deliciously satisfying Sautéed Broccoli recipe is great to make as a healthy side or main. My easy recipe is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, and perfect for adding hearty potatoes or other extras to enjoy as an even more filling dish.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 25 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 3.5 to 4 cups broccoli (- chopped, 250 grams)
- 3 cup water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil (- extra virgin)
- 2 tsp garlic (- finely chopped)
- 2/3 to 3/4 cup chopped potatoes (- 150 grams or 1 large potato)
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
- 2 tsp dried herbs (- I added half teaspoon each of dried parsley, thyme, basil and oregano)
- salt (as required)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water (- optional)
Instructions
- 1
Remove and chop the broccoli florets from the head. Using a colander or strainer rinse them in very well in water. Drain the excess water.
- 2
Blanch broccoli florets in hot water for 2 minutes and place in a cold ice bath for a minute to stop the cooking process. Blanching is an optional step. Strain and set aside.
- 3
Finely chop garlic and cut potato in ½ to 1 inch cubes.
- 4
Use a heavy bottomed pan or skillet. Heat olive oil in it. Keep the heat to low.
- 5
Add garlic and stir.
- 6
Then add the potato cubes.
- 7
Mix and sauté until potatoes are about half done, not yet fork-tender. Be sure to stir regularly while sautéing the potatoes so that they become lightly crisp but don’t burn.
- 8
Add the broccoli, herbs, salt and pepper.
- 9
Mix gently but thoroughly.
- 10
If needed, add 2 to 3 tablespoons water to deglaze the pan and loosen the potato bits and garlic stuck to the pan.
- 11
Cover and cook on a low heat until the broccoli are tender but still firm to bite about 6 to 8 minutes. Do not overcook broccoli and make them mushy.
- 12
Keep a check and if the veggies start to stick to the pan, add a few splashes of water and deglaze. Cover the pan and continue to cook.
- 13
This is a dry dish so if there is any moisture or water in the pan then remove the lid and sauté until the moisture or water evaporated once the broccoli are done.
- 14
Serve sautéed broccoli hot or warm.
- 15
You can enjoy plain or garnish with some fresh or dried herbs like parsley, basil or cilantro, if you like. You can serve this as a side with nearly any main dish, such as baked or fried tofu steaks, pasta dishes, curries, or other hearty vegetarian dinner favorites.
- 16
Enjoy vegetarian sautéed broccoli as the star of the meal with a side of warm toasted bread.
- 17
It pairs particularly well with Italian breads – like Ciabatta and Focaccia – and Indian Breads like Roti or Parathas or even your everyday White Bread.