We just ate our first broccoli

kiwirose 5/11/2010, 8:15 pm

and while I realise this isnt news to most of you - it was sooooo sweet We just ate our first broccoli Icon_eek

. It was fabulous - and we all liked broccoli already.

I was a little disheartened that it took 2 broccoli heads to feed our family, and therefore 2sqft to feed us for one night, but the taste sold me on the fact that if I need to make an extra garden just for broccoli then so be it! lol

On a side note - has anyone cooked the leaves? I know they can be used but was wondering if anyone had suggestions - if the broccoli tasted so good then it would be a shame to waste the leaves if they have as much potential?
Thanks for any ideas We just ate our first broccoli Icon_biggrin

Ha-v-v 5/11/2010, 8:24 pm

That's so great !!! We havent tried planting broccoli, and its such a winner in our house. 2 heads to feed your family, I will have to plan accordingly. I have large sons that eat as much or more than their Pa right now.
Im so excited you got to eat out of your garden. I know its a great treat to get one pepper or one tomato Smile

Ha-v-v

miinva 5/11/2010, 8:38 pm

I'm not sure about cooking the leaves, but I'm hoping to grow some rapini and some spigariello, which are both supposed to taste like broccoli, but easier to grow. Supposedly you plant spigariello in July so I'm trying to talk my husband into letting me order some Smile

That's wonderful that you ate food from your garden! Last year I was just giddy the first time we did that.

**timwardell** 5/11/2010, 9:09 pm

Congratulations. There's nothing like eating fresh food you grew yourself! Very Happy

Megan 5/11/2010, 9:51 pm

Yes you can eat the broccoli leaves, though if they are big they might be a bit tough or bitter. When I was growing up we ate the crowns, stems and all, just peeled a little off anything that seemed very fibrous. The stems, once peeled, can be delightfully tender and really extend the yield of the plant. Experiment and see what works for you, the greens are a lot like kale or collards. The chickens loved anything we didn't want! (Didn't try eating roots, no data there.. .but everything else is edible.)

Lavender Debs 5/12/2010, 9:38 am

I'm with Megan, eat the new leaves. I like to make a meal of the central heads alone but when the side shoots are ready, if they are very small, I use them and some of the younger leaves like broccolini, slice up a few leaves with the side shoots to fill out a spot on the plate. Sometimes steamed for the last 4 or so minutes with the rice or stir-fried. I like them with brown rice or pasta. We like them in a Chang's Mongolian Grill style, stir-fried with whole grain pasta, green onions, your choice of protein, a sliced red pepper if you have it and fresh herbs, and a garnish of toasted sesame seeds, maybe some pepper flakes.

They are good steamed or fried in baked potatoes with toasted sunflower seeds. If they have been julienned then the heat of the potato may be enough to wilt them if they are young (tender) enough. I don't think I would want much unpeeled stem with potatoes. I like to keep things silky when I'm serving it in potatoes.

Does that get you started?
Deborah ...who (so far) ONLY has one leaf each on her broccoli.

kiwirose 5/12/2010, 9:43 am

And to think I was thinking of perhaps not growing broccoli this fall because they take up so much room (I have giant leaves - they take up way more than it's alloted 1sqft lol - but after last night, I told my kid that if I had to build a whole new garden just for the broccoli then so be it.

I will try cooking the leaves this weekend (or perhaps even tomorrow) and let you know how I get on

Jola 5/12/2010, 9:52 am

Congratulations! You are lucky. We had frost 3 days ago, and now temperature is in the 40s, so not even much gardening for us, and we can only dream about broccoli from the garden.

Megan 5/12/2010, 6:44 pm

I was afraid I'd have trouble getting broccoli to make a head, so for my first SGF, I planted Rapini. It seems to be coming up fine, if very slowly. And Lavender Debs -- me too, I just have seed leaves and the beginnings of first leaves so far.

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thanks for the great ideas on the leaves

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