A bouquet of broccoli for your Valentine

Cinzia Cuneo February 12, 2010 Valentine's Day, Vegetables

We all know that vegetables are good for our health, but did you know that broccoli is extremely effective in reducing the risk of heart diseases? That’s why I suggest that you include this vegetable in your Valentine’s Day menu, by offering it to the one whose heart beats for you!

In fact, all the vegetables in the cruciferous family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli rabe, etc…) contain excellent properties for preventing diseases. As for broccoli, it is available all year round, is inexpensive, can be preserved and adds colour to your food.

When you are buying broccoli, look for firm stalks and a compact head; if the head contains any yellow flowers, this means that it’s not fresh and it will most probably have a bitter taste. You can also eat the stalks, after having pared them. Make sure that you don’t overcook broccoli, as it will become pasty and unappetizing; overcooking also kills its taste as well as its nutrients.

So, Happy Valentines Day!

A few of our recipes that feature broccoli:

• Buttered Broccoli Purée
• Ligurian Broccoli Soup
• Pasta with Broccoli and Ham
• Sesame Beef and Broccoli

Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on February 14, 2009.

Author

Cinzia Cuneo

Cinzia Cuneo, founder of SOSCuisine.com, never wanted to neglect the quality of her food. She shares her special expertise to make good food quickly and without complications!