Don't Throw out those Broccoli Stems!

I love broccoli. Our family eats it at least once a week. Broccoli is cheap, often on sale for 70 cents a pound. Broccoli is a nutritious "super food". It is high in vitamin C, K, A, and fiber. Broccoli is a member of the Clean 15, a group of fruits and vegetables that contain little to no pesticide residue. I skip the organic broccoli due to this fact.

The dirty dozen on the other hand, I do try to buy organic, especially berries. Luckily Trader Joes sells most of the organic variety of the dirty dozen at very reasonable prices. Trader Joes organic frozen berries are great for mixing into yogurt (preferably full fat plain or honey Greek yogurt!) and pancakes.

I digress, back to the broccoli stems. Lynne Rossetto Kasper, of American Splendid Table on NPR, featured broccoli stems on a segment of a recent podcast. I knew broccoli stems were edible, but usually tossed them. She mentioned a method for quick pickling them and I was sold. I am crazy about pickled things. I would go to Korean restaurants if they only presented the 20 or so tiny pickled dishes and left out the bbq kalbi and bimibap.

Besides quick pickling the stems, you can also use them in stir fry or a simple salad. I have not bought broccoli crowns since I made this discovery and even look forward to the stems more then the crown now! Here is the easy recipe for a quick pickle ready to eat within a day.

2 or 3 broccoli stems

1/2 teaspoon salt, preferably kosher salt

1 medium size garlic clove, minced

1 tablespoon apple cider, white wine or whatever vinegar you have

1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Peel the broccoli stems and cut crosswise into thin coins.

2. Place in a jar (I use a glass clamp lid jar) with the salt. Shake and store overnight. The salt will draw out excess water from the stalk.

2. Drain the water. Add the garlic, vinegar, and olive oil and toss together. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight and then enjoy!

Thought for the day: I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli. George Bush, U.S. President (1990)