How to cook cauliflower after freezing
Fresh cauliflower is left in salted water for a few minutes before cooking. If you need to boil a frozen vegetable, then it does not need to be soaked. You can immediately put it in a pan of salted water and begin the cooking process. Frozen cauliflower retains almost all the vitamins found in fresh vegetables.
Important: cauliflower does not need to be defrosted. It is placed in a pan immediately after removal from the freezer. This way it turns out juicy and doesn’t get overcooked.
Different ways to cook cauliflower after freezing:
- On the Stove in a Saucepan – To cook frozen cauliflower, you will need a saucepan with high sides. Water is poured into it and salt is added. After boiling, place frozen vegetables in a saucepan. You need to cook for 10-15 minutes. Readiness is checked with a toothpick or fork. If the vegetable is easily pierced, it means it is completely ready. After this, you need to drain the cabbage in a colander and let the liquid drain;
- In the microwave - to make cabbage tasty in the microwave, you first need to defrost it. The microwave is set to defrosting mode, the time is set at 30 seconds. After this, the desired mode for cooking is selected;
- In a frying pan - for frying, frozen cauliflower or broccoli, you need to boil them first. But, unlike vegetables that are consumed boiled, the cooking time is reduced to 7 minutes ;
- In a slow cooker - before you start cooking cauliflower, you need to defrost it. To do this, vegetable inflorescences are placed in a container with boiling water. After this, the cabbage is transferred to a multicooker sieve, salted and steamed for 16 to 20 minutes ;
- In the oven - before baking the vegetable in the oven, it must be boiled. To do this, place the cauliflower in salted boiling water for 5 minutes . After that, remove it from the stove, drain the water and place it on a baking sheet. It is baked in the oven according to existing recipes.
After boiling, frozen cauliflower florets may darken. To avoid this, it is recommended to sprinkle the vegetable with lemon juice after cooking.
Unlike cauliflower, broccoli cooks for 15 minutes after freezing and does not require pre-thawing. Otherwise, the inflorescences may be damaged and lose their attractive appearance. Its inflorescences do not boil so quickly. If the vegetable is easily pierced, it means it is completely ready.
In order for the broccoli to retain its color and not become too soft during further processing, after boiling it must be rinsed with cold water.
How to choose the right frozen broccoli
When deciding to prepare a delicious dish from the type of cabbage in question in winter or spring, do not despair if there is no fresh vegetable on sale. All year round it is frozen and freely available in almost any supermarket. The main task is to choose a quality product. The following recommendations will help you do this:
- Leaves and inflorescences should be green, without brown or yellow parts;
- It is better if the stems are thin. This means that the vegetable is not old, and after cooking it will become soft and tender;
- An overripe vegetable, which is best not to buy, is indicated by the presence of inflorescences sticking out in different directions.
Even a frozen product will have a head with florets that fit well together.
How long to cook frozen broccoli
Having lowered the vegetable into boiling water, you need to wait for it to boil. After this, the cabbage should be cooked for no more than 10-12 minutes. If you use a slow cooker or double boiler during the cooking process, then you need to cook the broccoli for 5-10 minutes.
Cooking time depends on the size of the vegetable and the thickness of its stems.
Attention! The thicker the stems and the larger the inflorescences, the longer the cabbage will cook.
For a child, you need to cook the vegetable until fully cooked, avoiding the presence of damp parts. Otherwise, it may affect the baby's health and the quality of the food for him.
Beneficial properties of broccoli
Potatoes - 2 pieces Garlic - 2 cloves Parsley - 1 bunch Turmeric - 1 pinch Water - 1 liter
Many of us know that steamed food is the healthiest, as it retains all the vitamins. This also applies to broccoli. The head of cabbage for cooking in a double boiler should be divided into inflorescences, then put them in a bowl and cover with a lid.
After waiting 9-10 minutes, you will receive ready-made cabbage, which can be served with a little salt.
We invite you to read: Korean kimchi from Chinese cabbage step by step
Broccoli contains a huge amount of minerals:
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- zinc;
- iron;
- vitamins C, PP, K, E.
In addition, broccoli is rich in elements such as fiber, fats, proteins, and it contains 1.5 times more vitamin C than some citrus fruits. It also contains the beauty vitamin - beta-carotene.
In order for all the beneficial qualities of broccoli to be preserved, during the cooking process you need to follow only one rule - do not overcook it. The boiling time for fresh broccoli and frozen broccoli is different.
How to properly cook frozen broccoli
To prevent broccoli from losing its beautiful color and turning into mush, you must follow some rules for cooking it:
- Before boiling a vegetable, it does not need to be defrosted so as not to injure the inflorescences;
- If you plan to cook cabbage in a pan, you need to wait until the water boils completely and immediately throw the product into it;
- During boiling, the inflorescences can damage each other and fall apart. A large pan size will help avoid this.
Important! To ensure that the cabbage retains its unique green color, after boiling, remove it and immediately plunge into ice water.
Recipes
How to cook delicious frozen broccoli
To make this vegetable really taste good, you don’t need to defrost it, but immediately throw it into boiling water. You can use a double boiler after chopping the vegetable so that it cooks evenly. To do this, select the “Pilaf” mode.
The slow cooker is also great for cooking. First, the container of the electrical appliance is filled a little with water, a grate is placed on top and the cabbage is laid out on it. Close the lid well and cook for about 5 minutes.
Omelet with boiled chicken in a frying pan
This dish is perfect for breakfast because it doesn’t require much time to prepare and keeps you full until your next meal. Required ingredients:
- Frozen broccoli – 300 g;
- Chicken – 200 g;
- Eggs – 6 pieces;
- Milk – 200 g;
- Flour – 3 tablespoons;
- Salt, pepper, spices;
- Vegetable or olive oil for frying.
Boil the cabbage in boiling water until tender for 10 minutes, then plunge into ice water. Cut into small pieces and place in a frying pan, in which preheat the oil and lightly fry the boiled chicken. Beat the eggs well with milk and flour, adding salt and spices. Pour the mixture over the cabbage and meat. Bring to readiness over low heat.
Classic recipe
If you are thinking about how to cook delicious frozen broccoli, you should take a closer look at the recipe with sour cream. For it you will need:
- 300 g of inflorescences;
- 100 g sour cream;
- 50 ml water;
- salt, herbs.
Preparation:
- Thaw the product and wash it well.
- Place it in a frying pan and pour in some water.
- Simmer over low heat until ready.
- Add sour cream and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with spices and serve.
Despite the low calorie content, the dish is very nutritious and satisfying.
Diet salad
Ingredients:
- 1 head of broccoli;
- 1/2 head of cauliflower;
- 150 ml water;
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice;
- 2 tablespoons of oil (olive or sunflower);
- half a can of canned olives;
- 50 grams of sun-dried tomatoes;
- sugar, salt and other spices to taste.
Cooking process:
- Divide the vegetables into inflorescences and boil (for 3 – 7 minutes).
- Mix vegetable oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt and seasonings.
- Next, place broccoli and cauliflower into this mixture, mix everything carefully.
- Leave the salad to sit for about half an hour.
- Stir it several times.
- You can add salt or any other spices to taste.
Find the 20 best broccoli salad recipes here.
Fried in batter
Ingredients:
- Half a kilogram of broccoli.
- 450 grams of cauliflower.
- 3 eggs.
- Salt.
- Oil for frying.
- Spices and seasonings to taste.
- Pour enough water into the pan to completely cover the vegetables. Bring it to a boil (don’t forget to add salt). Place vegetables in boiling water.
- Cook over low heat for 3-5 minutes until half cooked.
- Break, salt and beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
- Place the vegetables in a colander and let the water drain.
- Fry the vegetables (but not completely, just to remove excess water).
- Next, pour in the beaten eggs and fry until done (test by taste or pierce the petioles of the inflorescences).
- You can add spices and herbs to taste.
Read more about how you can also cook broccoli in batter in this article.
What else can you cook?
Diet soup puree
Its preparation does not require any skills or a lot of time. For it you need to take:
- Carrots and onions – 1 piece each;
- Broccoli – 300 g;
- Milk – 200 g;
- Water – half a liter;
- Garlic – 2 cloves;
- Oil – 50 g;
- Salt, spices.
Pour water into the pan, wait until it boils and add finely chopped vegetables. Cook after the liquid has boiled again for 10 minutes. Grind the soup, add milk and butter to it. Bring to a boil again and remove from heat.
Salad
- Frozen broccoli – 400 g;
- Carrots – 1 piece;
- Champignons – 150 g;
- Garlic - to taste;
- Celery – 1 piece;
- Green onions – 1 bunch;
- Mayonnaise or sour cream – 250 g;
- Salt, pepper, spices.
Boil all vegetables until tender in separate containers. Cut carrots and celery into cubes, and mushrooms into thin slices. Separate the cabbage into inflorescences. Mix all ingredients with garlic and season with mayonnaise or sour cream. Add spices and garnish with green onions.
spices for broccoli
1. Broccoli with curd and garlic sauce Per 100 g: 64 kcal, proteins - 8 g, fats - 2 g, carbohydrates - 4 g. Ingredients: Broccoli 1 pc. (350 g) Cottage cheese 200 g Eggs 2 pcs. Garlic 1-2 cloves Natural yogurt 4 tbsp. l. Lemon juice, salt, black pepper to taste Preparation: Separate the broccoli into florets and rinse well. Boil for 10 minutes in boiling and slightly salted water until soft. Mash the cottage cheese with crushed garlic, add yogurt, salt and pepper to taste. Pour the curd sauce over the broccoli. Cut the hard-boiled eggs into several pieces and place on top. Bon appetit! 2. Chicken casserole: simple and healthy Per 100 g: 111 kcal, proteins - 17 g, fats - 4 g, carbohydrates - 2 g. Ingredients: • Chicken fillet - 500 g • Carrots - 1 piece • Onion - 1 piece • Broccoli - 100 g (can be replaced with cauliflower) • Egg - 1 piece • Cheese - 70 g • Salt, spices - to taste Preparation: Cut the chicken into small pieces, chop the carrots and onions with a blender or grate. Mix everything together with the egg, add salt and place on a baking sheet. Place broccoli on top and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 180 degrees for 40 minutes. Bon appetit! 3. Idea for dinner: vegetable casserole Per 100 g: 64 kcal, proteins - 5 g, fats - 3 g, carbohydrates - 4 g. Ingredients: • Vegetable mixture 500 g • Broccoli 300 g • Chicken eggs 5 pcs. • Skim milk 150 ml • Parsley, dill • Frozen sweet pepper 100 g • Salt, pepper Preparation: 1. Pre-boil the broccoli florets (5 minutes), remove and immediately plunge into ice water. This is necessary so that the cabbage retains its bright green color. 2. Beat eggs with milk, add vegetable mixture (carrots, green peas, corn, green beans), sweet pepper and mix. You can use your own frozen sweet peppers. Salt, pepper - to taste. 3. Pour the prepared mixture into a baking dish and carefully insert the broccoli florets vertically into the mixture. Bake at 170°C for 50 minutes. 4. The casserole is ready! Bon appetit! 4. Casserole with chicken breast and broccoli Per 100 g: 111 kcal, proteins - 1 g, fats - 6 g, carbohydrates - 3 g. A nutritious lunch, rich in vitamins and protein! Ingredients: • Chicken breast - 150 g • Broccoli - 300 g • Eggs - 4 pcs • Cheese - 75 g (ours is Russian) • Green onions - 50 g • Salt, spices - to taste Preparation: Grease a baking dish with oil. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees. Cook broccoli in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Leave in a colander to drain off excess liquid. Grate the cheese, chop the chicken, and finely chop the green onions. Place layers of broccoli, chicken, cheese and green onions into the pan. Beat the eggs with fresh ground black pepper and pour this mixture over the prepared casserole. Distribute the egg mixture evenly. Bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown. Bon appetit! 5. Chicken cutlets with broccoli Per 100 g: 81 kcal, proteins - 16 g, fats - 1 g, carbohydrates - 2 g. The deliciousness of these cutlets is simply off the charts! Chicken breast and broccoli - it’s hard to imagine a more dietary combination. And according to this recipe, the cutlets are also very juicy and tender. Ingredients: • Chicken fillet - 400 g • Egg white - 1 piece • Broccoli - 200 g • Salt, spices - to taste. Preparation: Wash the fillet and roll it into minced meat. Add the protein. Grate the broccoli on a coarse grater or put it in a food processor. We form cutlets, put them in a non-stick pan, add some water and put them in a preheated oven. Bake at 180 degrees until done. 6. Broccoli pancakes in the oven Per 100 g: 92 kcal, proteins - 7 g, fats - 6 g, carbohydrates - 4 g. Dietary broccoli pancakes with benefits for your figure. Ingredients: • Broccoli - 400 g • Oat bran - 2 tbsp. l • Egg - 2 pcs • Cheese - 50 g (ours is Russian) • Olive oil - 1 tsp Preparation: Wash the broccoli, disassemble into florets, and then chop with a knife. Pre-heat treatment of broccoli is not required. Grate hard cheese on a fine or medium grater. In a bowl, combine chopped broccoli, bran, eggs and hard cheese. Add a little salt and some spices. Mix the ingredients well so that they all stick together. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spoon out medium-sized pancakes. The parchment can be lightly greased with olive oil. Bake at 180C for about 35 minutes. 7. Nutritional broccoli cutlets Per 100 g: 105 kcal, proteins - 8 g, fats - 5 g, carbohydrates - 8 g. Ingredients: • Egg - 2 pcs • Broccoli - 350 g • Onion - 1/4 head • Cheese - 50 g (we have Russian) • Bran - 50 g • Salt, pepper - to taste Preparation: Preheat the oven to 200 C, lay out baking paper. Place the broccoli in boiling water for 2 minutes, remove and cut into small pieces. In a bowl, combine chopped broccoli with remaining ingredients until smooth. Scoop the mixture with a tablespoon and form into an elongated patty. Bake for 20 minutes.
Advice on how to properly freeze broccoli
To enjoy the wonderful taste of the vegetable all year round, to be confident in its quality and freshness, you need to take care of how to freeze broccoli yourself:
- Buy fresh cabbage that is a solid green color without any brown or yellow spots;
- Wash the vegetable well, getting rid of all the leaves, cutting off all the unsightly areas;
- Carefully cut into florets;
- Dip the broccoli for half an hour in a salt solution, for the preparation of which you will need 20 g of salt per 1 liter of water. This will get rid of all small parasites;
- After the allotted time, rinse the cabbage with clean water;
- Pour clean water into a container and boil it;
- Dip the vegetable in boiling water for 2 or 3 minutes and then immediately throw it into cold water;
- Dry the inflorescences with a paper towel and wait until they are completely dry;
- Place the dry vegetable in plastic containers or plastic bags, close tightly and put in the freezer.
Oven recipe: how to cook broccoli with mushrooms
The side dish with mushrooms in cheese batter turns out to be juicy, tasty, filling, and quite easy to prepare. You will need:
- half a kilo of thawed broccoli
- 300 grams of champignons or any other mushrooms
- onion, if small, then two
- 100 grams of hard cheese
- spoon of flour without top
- half a glass of warm milk
- garlic, ground pepper, oil, salt
Cooking:
- Fry chopped onions with mushrooms, adding oil and salt
- Boil the inflorescences until tender, 3 minutes.
- Heat a baking sheet, lay out the mixed mushrooms with onions and cabbage
- Prepare the batter: mix milk with flour, add small cloves of garlic, grated cheese, pepper
- Pour sauce over cabbage and set at 200 degrees
- Cook for 5 minutes, spread with a spatula
How to choose broccoli
Both fresh and frozen cabbage should be a rich green color. If the inflorescences are yellow, it means the vegetable is overripe or spoiled. Overripe broccoli will be tasteless, and spoiled broccoli simply cannot be eaten.
Choose heads of fresh cabbage that are not too large. Make sure that the inflorescences fit tightly to each other and are elastic. And remember that broccoli will wilt quite quickly when exposed to air. Therefore, if you want the freshest vegetables, take copies without cellophane.
Fresh broccoli
Frozen broccoli should not have too much ice or snow on it.
How to prepare broccoli
Frozen broccoli requires no preparation. It does not need to be defrosted or washed first. If you do this, the cabbage will become soft and unsightly. The inflorescences should only be cleared of lumps of snow, if any.
Fresh broccoli should be thoroughly washed under running water. First, remove the lower part of the stem and leaves from the head. Then cut off the inflorescences. If they are large, you can take them apart into smaller ones.
The stem is also edible. Cut off the shoots from it and clean it with a vegetable peeler. Chop into small pieces or chop into strips.
Processing a head of broccoli
The fun begins when you need to cut the cabbage. We will fry it, and not for long. Therefore, the pieces should be small so that they have time to fry, but not burn.
First you need to rinse the head of cabbage with running water and let the liquid drain. Cut off the stem and throw it away. It's too rough and won't be of any use to us. Although I note that if you like vegetable broths, you can take this stalk. It will give the broth a greenish tint and the aroma of boiled cabbage. I don't really like it, but many people like this combination.
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Now you need to disassemble the cabbage into inflorescences. Please note that each inflorescence still has a stem; it is still rough. So we take a vegetable peeler and remove the top layer from it. You can, of course, take a knife, but it will be more difficult.
Now you need to cut off the stems from the inflorescences.
The latter will immediately fall apart. That's how it should be. If not, chop them up a little. We also cut the legs into pea-sized cubes.
How long to cook fresh and frozen broccoli
Fresh and frozen broccoli take the same amount of time to cook. But if there is a lot of ice on the inflorescences, you will have to cook them a little longer.
The number of minutes depends on the chosen cooking method. It is important not only to follow the recommendations, but also to monitor the vegetable.
Ready broccoli is easily pierced with a knife or fork, but at the same time holds its shape and does not fall apart. If you overcook cabbage, it will become too soft and unappetizing, and the color will turn from bright green to olive.
How to cook broccoli in a saucepan
In water
Place broccoli in boiling water. If desired, the water can be salted to taste. Reduce heat to medium.
Cooking time depends on what kind of cabbage you want:
- crispy broccoli - 1.5–2 minutes of cooking;
- slightly crispy broccoli - 3-4 minutes;
- soft broccoli - 6-8 minutes.
Place the finished cabbage in ice water for a minute. This will stop the cooking process and preserve the bright color of the vegetable.
For a couple
Boil water in a saucepan. Place a colander or a special steaming stand on top. It should not touch the water.
Place the broccoli in a colander or rack and cover with a lid. Cook the cabbage over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. The longer it sits over steam, the softer it will become.
Oven recipe: how to cook broccoli in creamy batter
Broccoli baked in creamy batter turns out tasty and nutritious, with a golden crust.
You will need:
- half a kilo of cabbage
- garlic to taste
- 2 eggs
- spoon of flour
- 4 tablespoons heavy cream
- salt, vegetable oil
Cooking:
- We divide the cabbage into small inflorescences, wash
- Beat eggs with a fork, mix with salt, flour, heavy cream
- Dip each inflorescence in the resulting batter and place on a greased baking sheet.
- Let the oven preheat and bake for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with chopped garlic, add cabbage garnish in portions