Currently in season

Broccoli in the Thermomix®

We have matched 15 English Thermomix® recipes with broccoli. Here is the season window, buying advice and the best MixMyDay recipe links.

Seasonal calendar by month

When are broccoli in season?

European outdoor crop from June to October, peak season July to September..

Outdoor crop: fresh European harvest. Protected crop: greenhouse or covered cultivation. Stored: European harvest kept in storage.

Buying and storing broccoli

Firm, evenly green florets with no yellowing are the most important sign of freshness. The stalk should not be hollow or soft. Small white flowers appearing between the florets show that the broccoli is over-mature. Broccolini (thinner stems, delicate flavour) and purple sprouting broccoli are varieties with a shorter cooking time. Imported broccoli is available all year round, but broccoli grown outdoors in season across Europe has a more intense flavour.

Broccoli keeps in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, unwashed and loosely wrapped in a bag. To freeze, blanch the florets for 2 to 3 minutes, refresh in cold water and dry well. Frozen broccoli keeps for up to 12 months and can go straight into soups or bakes.

Preparing broccoli in the Thermomix®

For Broccoli Soup, break the broccoli into florets, cook until tender with onion and stock at 100°C on speed 1, then blend for 10 seconds on speed 10. The soup turns creamy and keeps its green colour if you serve it straight after blending. For Broccoli Pesto with farfalle: blanch the florets briefly, then blend for 10 seconds on speed 10 with olive oil, garlic and Parmesan.

For florets with a bit of bite, steam the broccoli in the Varoma: 15 to 18 minutes at Varoma temperature, which keeps the nutrients intact and the colour a vivid green. This is also how we prepare broccoli for the Varoma Salmon with Broccoli and for raw salads with a honey and mustard dressing.

The most common mistakes with broccoli

Broccoli boiled to mush. Broccoli cooks much faster than cauliflower. In boiling water 5 to 7 minutes is plenty, in the Varoma 15 to 18 minutes. Cook it any longer and you lose not just the texture but the colour and most of the vitamins too.
Broccoli pesto turns bitter. Bitter flavours develop when you use over-mature or overcooked florets. Use fresh, crisp broccoli, blanch it and refresh it in cold water straight away. Too much garlic makes the bitterness worse.
Throwing away the stalk. The stalk is edible and has barely less flavour than the florets. Peel off the outer skin thinly, then cut it into slices or batons and cook it along with the rest, or use it in the Thermomix® for soups.

Complete list

All 15 Thermomix® recipes with broccoli

Broccoli as the main ingredient (13 recipes)

Show all 13 recipes ↓Show fewer ↑

Broccoli in more recipes (2 recipes)

Goes well with broccoli

These seasonal ingredients are in season at the same time, ideal for combining:

Broccoli in the monthly calendar:

FAQ

Good to know

How long do I steam broccoli in the Varoma?

Broccoli florets need about 15 to 18 minutes in the Varoma at Varoma temperature. Thinner florets or broccolini are done after 12 to 14 minutes. For salads, cook it a little less so the broccoli still has some bite.

Can you eat broccoli raw?

Yes. Raw broccoli tastes nutty and works well in raw salads. For a raw broccoli salad, break the florets into small pieces and toss them straight into the dressing. The raw florets contain more vitamin C than cooked ones.

How do I spot fresh broccoli when shopping?

The florets should be evenly dark green and firm, with no yellowing and no open flowers. The stalk should not be hollow and should look moist and glossy where it has been cut. A mild cabbage smell is normal, but a sharp, unpleasant smell means the broccoli is old.

What is the difference between broccoli and romanesco?

Romanesco is botanically a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, with its distinctive green spiral florets. It tastes milder and nuttier than broccoli, has a firmer texture and can be steamed or blended just like cauliflower or broccoli.

How many Thermomix® recipes with broccoli are there?

There are currently 15 recipes in our collection. You will find them above, sorted by main ingredient and supporting ingredient.