Broccoli Fritters

Ingredients3 cups chopped fresh broccoli (stems cut into ½ inch lengths and florets into 1 inch chunks) 1 large egg 1/2 cup (65 grams) all-purpose flour 1/3 cup (30 grams) finely grated parmesan cheese 1 small clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste A pinch of red pepper flakes or several grinds of black pepper Olive or vegetable oil for frying

Method 1. Steam your broccoli until tender (3-4 minutes). Drain the broccoli, then set aside to cool. 2. In a large bowl, beat the egg. Add flour, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the cooled broccoli and mash all the ingredients with a potato masher to combine. 3. Heat a large heavy-bottomed pan over moderate heat. Once hot, add a small amount of oil to cover the bottom of the pan and scoop a two tablespoon-size mound of the batter and drop it into the pan, flattening it slightly with a spatula. Repeat with the rest of your batter, leaving a couple inches space between each. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown underneath, then flip the fritters and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. 4. Transfer fritters onto paper towels, then serve. These are best enjoyed immediately, or you can also keep them warm in the oven on a moderate setting.

Recipe credit: Smitten Kitchen blog.

Chicken and Cashew Stir-Fry

Ingredientsoil, for cooking (vegetable oil works best in this recipe) 750 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into strips 2 egg whites, lightly beaten ½ cup cornflour 3 cloves garlic, chopped or put through a press 2 onions, thinly sliced 4 medium sized carrots and/or 1 red sweet capsicum, cut into match sticks 200 g broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp sherry 1 tbsp oyster sauce 1/3 cup roasted cashews 4 spring onions, diagonally sliced

Method 1. Heat the wok until very hot, add 1 tbsp of the oil and swirl to coat the side. Dip a quarter of the chicken strips into the egg white and then into the cornflour. Add to the wok and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and just cooked. Drain on paper towels and repeat with the remaining chicken, reheating the wok and adding a little more oil each time. 2. Reheat the wok, add 1 tbsp of the oil and stir-fry the onion, carrot and/or capsicum and garlic over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened slightly. Add broccoli, continuing to stir. Increase the heat to high and add the soy sauce, sherry and oyster sauce. Toss the vegetables well. 3. Return the chicken to the wok and toss over high heat for 1-2 minutes to heat the chicken and make sure it is entirely cooked through. Add salt if desired. Toss the cashews and spring onion through the chicken mixture, and serve immediately over rice or udon noodles.

Bok Choy, Broccolini and Chicken in a Spiced Sauce

Ingredients3cm piece fresh ginger, julienned 4 boneless chicken breasts ¾ cup salt-reduced chicken stock ¼ cup Mirin or dry cooking sherry ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces 2-3 star anise 3 spring onions, sliced into 1/2 cm rounds 2 carrots julienned 1 bunch broccolini, trimmed and halved 1 bunch baby bok choy, trimmed

Method 1. Slice chicken breasts into 1/2 cm thick pieces.  Cut these in half to reduce their length. Mix stock, wine, soy sauce, brown sugar, cinnamon and star anise and marinade chicken for 10 minutes to 24 hours. 2. Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan, add ginger and garlic and cook for 30 sec. Skim chicken from marinade and brown on all sides for 3-4 min.  Remove chicken, transfer to a plate and keep warm. 4. Add spring onions and carrots and stir-fry until onions soften. Add marinade. Bring to the boil. 5. Add broccolini. Cook, uncovered, for 5 min or until vegetables are tender and sauce has reduced slightly. Pour this over chicken. 6. Return pan to heat and add bok choy. Cook until wilted.  Top chicken, vegetables and sauce with bok choy. Serve with steamed rice.

Pasta with Broccoli and Lemon Basil Sauce

Pasta for 41 head of broccoli Lemon Basil Sauce (below) Grated Parmesan cheese

Ingredients 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon butter OR use extra olive oil 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped 1 shallot finely diced - Optional 2 tablespoons white wine 2 tablespoons chicken stock ¼ cup fresh cream OR additional stock zest from one or two whole lemons handful of fresh basil leaves extra chopped fresh basil leaves salt and pepper to taste

Method 1. Cook the pasta your family likes.  Spirals or penne work well with this sauce but it is delicious on flat pasta as well. 2. Cut the broccoli into florets and the stems into 3/4cm rounds.  Lightly steam just until tender so that the broccoli keeps its green colour. 3. Heat olive oil and butter in a small heavy bottom fry pan.  Add garlic and shallot and gently cook until they soften, less then 5 minutes. Watch carefully, adding the wine and stock just before the garlic browns. 4. Reduce by half then add the cream and allow it to heat, just until it starts to bubble.  Remove from heat. 5. Add in the lemon zest.  Toss with cooked pasta, steamed broccoli, chopped basil leaves, salt and black pepper and grated Parmesan cheese.

Vegetable Pesto Pasta

This recipe works well with broccoli, carrots, green beans, peas and zucchini.  The carrots, zucchini and green beans can be pan fried in a little olive oil or butter or steamed and then added to the pasta when done.  The broccoli can either be steamed separately or added to the pasta when it is cooking.  If the peas are fresh, you can add them to the carrots right before removing from heat or add to the pasta water right before it is done. Ingredients 3 packed cups fresh basil leaves (removed from stems) 2 large cloves fresh garlic ½ cup pine nuts, walnuts, almonds or a combination ¾ cup (packed) fresh chopped parsley ¾ cup fresh-grated parmesan ½ cup olive oil ¼ cup melted butter salt to taste

Method 1. Begin cooking pasta of your choice. All pastas work well with pesto. 2. Combine all ingredients except cheese in a blender on low, then medium speed. Thoroughly work everything into smooth paste. You can also do this in a mortar and pestle. 3. At this stage, you can put portions into containers and freeze for the winter.  Add cheese, mixing gently to combine. 4. Combine cooked pasta, cooked vegetables, pesto and extra cheese, salt and pepper to taste.

Source: Moosewood Cookbook – Mollie Katzen