Broccoli Purée With Ginger Food

BROCCOLI PUREE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with enough water to come 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Set a steamer rack in the pot, cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the potato chunks and cook until they are very tender, about 18 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl and mash until smooth.
• Place broccoli into steamer rack and steam over medium heat until the broccoli is very tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to the bowl of a food processor. Add the broth, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Process until the broccoli is pureed and almost smooth.
• Stir the broccoli puree into the mashed potato and blend well. Season the puree to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

BROCCOLI PURéE WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Cut off a 1/4-inch-thick slice of ginger and reserve. Grate the remainder and wrap it in a thin cotton tea towel. Twist the towel tightly to release the juice. Reserve 1/2 teaspoon juice and discard the rest with the grated ginger.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger slice, onions and garlic, cover and sweat until the onions are soft but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the cream, bring to a boil and simmer until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Discard the ginger slice and keep the cream warm.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook until very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and press against the sides with a wooden spoon to extract excess water.
• Put the broccoli in a food processor, add 1/2 the cream mixture, a pinch of salt and a pinch of cayenne. Process until smooth. Add the remaining cream mixture and the ginger juice; blend well. Adjust the seasoning and serve warm.

BROCCOLI PUREE

Steps:

• Cut and trim broccoli into florets. If stems are large, trim them and cut them into fairly large bite-size pieces. There should be about six cups.
• Put broccoli pieces in saucepan and add cold water to cover and salt to taste. Bring to boil and let simmer about 10 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Drain.
• Put broccoli into the container of food processor and process or, preferably, into conical food mill and press through into a saucepan.
• Heat gently while stirring in butter, garlic, salt, pepper and cheese. When piping hot, serve immediately.

BROCCOLI WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Cut florets into 2-inch-wide pieces. Trim stems and peel with a knife, then slice crosswise 1/4 inch thick. Cook broccoli in a large pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté ginger, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add broccoli and salt and sauté , stirring, until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes.

PURéED BROCCOLI AND CELERY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Do not allow these ingredients to brown. Add a generous pinch of salt to prevent this from happening (the salt draws out liquid from the vegetables). Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the garlic smells fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add the broccoli, potatoes or rice, water or stock, bouquet garni, and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Remove the bouquet garni. Stir in the spinach and let sit for a minute off the heat. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt.
• Using a hand blender, or in batches in a regular blender, purée the soup. If using a regular blender fill only half way and cover the top with a towel pulled down tight, rather than airtight with the lid, because hot soup will jump and push the top off if the blender is closed airtight. Return to the pot and heat through, stirring. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Serve, topping each bowl with a sprinkle of chopped herbs and with other garnishes of your choice.

GINGER BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Saute the broccoli over medium heat in sesame oil for 8 minutes.
• While broccoli is cooking, stir together the soy sauce, ginger, and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Add the soy mixture to the broccoli along with the water, cover and simmer for 2 minutes more.
• Serve at once.