In case you haven’t heard, broccoli is pretty trendy right now. (Sorry, cauliflower, but you finally have some competition.) It tastes good raw, dipped in a zesty dressing, steamed and incorporated into a stir-fry, and yes, ground up and used as pizza crust. What a time to be alive.
While you’ve probably been hearing that broccoli is good for you since you were a kid, people don’t often talk about the reasons why. Well, wonder no more.
What are the biggest broccoli benefits I should know about?
1. It’s a good source of folate. Broccoli is an excellent source of folate (57 micrograms per cup, AKA 14 percent of your recommended dietary allowance), which contributes to lowering the risk of heart diseases and strokes, treating gum disease, and even supporting hair growth. (It’s also a key nutrient for fetal development.)
2. Broccoli is full of vitamins A, B6, and K. Those little broccoli stalks are good sources of vitamins A, B6, and K. Together, these nutrients help keep the immune system up (vitamin A), keep blood flowing and supporting calcium absorption (vitamin K), and building muscle (vitamin B6).
3. It has a ton of vitamin C. One cup of raw, chopped broccoli has 82 grams of vitamin C—more than what you’d get in a whole orange. So if you’re not a citrus person (or you just need a palate cleanser), consider broccoli your unsung immunity booster.
4. Eating broccoli supports a healthy metabolism. Like other veggies, broccoli has fiber (nearly 3 grams per chopped cup) which is key for keeping the digestive system functioning properly. Fiber is also a superstar nutrient for supporting a healthy metabolism and weight loss.
5. Eating broccoli could help reduce cancer risk. Broccoli is a good source of phytochemicals, including glucosinolates, which has been linked to helping prevent cancer. Cabbage and cauliflower are also good sources of glucosinolates, so stir-frying them all together is definitely a good (and delicious) idea.
6. It’s full of antioxidants. Another reason why eating broccoli can help protect against cancer is because it’s full of antioxidants, which help lower inflammation and protect the body from free radicals. Literally every part of broccoli is beneficial in this way, so fill up on the stalks, stems, leaves…all of it.
How to add more broccoli into your diet
Maybe you always hated broccoli as a kid. But given its health benefits, don’t you think it’s worth giving it another shot?
1. Roast it. The easiest way to eat broccoli is to cut it into florets, toss it with olive oil and your favorite spices, and roast it in the oven until crispy. For a more advanced version, try this recipe, which has a bit of heat thanks to the smoked sweet paprika.
2. Puree it into soup. Cut up your broccoli and puree it in the blender and turn it into a nourishing soup on the stovetop. You can combine other nutrient-dense veggies and inflammation-fighting spices, like turmeric, for a rounded out dish.
3. Use it as pizza crust. Trader Joe’s sells a pizza crust made of broccoli *and* kale, giving another super simple way to up your broccoli consumption. Or, you can make your own broccoli pizza crust by following the same steps as you would to make cauliflower crust.
4. Add it to your casseroles. Another easy way to incorporate broccoli into your food more is to supplement your pasta with broccoli when making pasta or casserole dishes. By not replacing the noodles completely, you’re still satisfying your craving for pasta, but incorporating the broccoli makes the meal much more nutrient-dense than it would be otherwise.
Whether it’s adding a handful of whole broccolis to your dish, ricing them, or pulsing them and incorporating them, get creative and experiment. There’s no end to what you can do with the vegetable—and your body will greatly benefit.
Vegan Broccoli Casserole
ecipe scaled to: Amount to eat (1 serving) Original recipe (6 servings)
- CauliflowerRawNotes: 1 head small (4″ dia.)265 grams
- Cashew nutsNuts, rawNotes: 1 cup137 grams
- Nutritional YeastVegan – Whole Foods Market8 tbsp60 grams
- VinegarCiderNotes: 1 tbsp14.9 grams
- GarlicRawNotes: 1 clove3 grams
- SaltTableNotes: 3/4 tsp4.5 grams
- PepperSpices, black1/4 tsp0.53 grams
- FlaxseedSeeds1/4 cup, whole42 grams
- Miso1/2 tbsp8.6 grams
- Lemon juiceRaw1 tbsp15 grams
- Almond milkPlain1 cup240 grams
- Olive oilSalad or cooking2 tbsp27 grams
- OnionsRaw1/2 cup, chopped80 grams
- Wheat flourWhole-grain3 tbsp22.5 grams
- BroccoliRaw2 bunch1.2 kg
Directions are based on the original recipe of 6 servings
Step 1 Soak cashews in water for at least one hour prior to cooking.
Step 2 Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove cauliflower cores and chop into florets. Chop onion. Cut broccoli into pieces. Set aside.
Step 3 Place cauliflower florets into a food processor and pulse until broken down into couscous-sized granules. Set aside.
Step 4 In a food processor, add cashews, nutritional yeast, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, flaxseed, miso, lemon juice, and ½ of the almond milk and pulse until smooth and creamy.
Step 5 In a large saucepan, add olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and let cook for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Add flour and whisk until oil is absorbed and onions are coated, about 60 seconds. Add other half of milk and whisk until thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk in cashew cheese until smooth and creamy.
Step 6 Add broccoli to a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Pour cashew cheese sauce over broccoli and mix to evenly distribute. Sprinkle 1 cup “cauliflower rice” over top.
Step 7 Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until cauliflower rice starts to turn golden brown and sauce is bubbling. Enjoy!
Healthy Living 