Spicy Stir Fried Broccoli Stems Recipes

SPICY STIR-FRIED BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, combine the lemon juice, soy sauce, basil, oil, vinegar, and lemon zest. Lay the tofu slices in a baking dish that can hold them in a single snug layer. Pour the marinade over the tofu. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the tofu is nearly dry and well browned.
• To make the broccoli rabe, chop the tender stalks and greens into 2-inch pieces and soak them in a large basin of cold water.
• In a heavy, wide saute pan over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the garlic and saute gently for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden. Add the red pepper flakes and tofu and saute for 1 minute. Scoop the greens from the water and add them to the pan. Raise the heat and turn the greens over in the oil with a pair of tongs. When the greens begin to simmer, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the greens are tender.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve drizzled with some of the liquor and garnished with the lemon wedges and garlic cloves.

STIR-FRIED BROCCOLI STEMS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a skillet over high heat. Throw in the broccoli and stir-fry, tossing constantly, until browned in spots, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, tossing, about 1 minute more. Sprinkle over the soy sauce and toss. Sprinkle with the cilantro, stir and serve.

STIR-FRIED BROCCOLI STALKS AND FLOWERS, RED PEPPERS, PEANUTS AND TOFU

Steps:

• Cut broccoli stems away from crowns. Peel stems, slice lengthwise, then cut in 2-inch julienne. Cut crowns in thin slices and collect all of the flower buds that fall off onto your cutting board in the same bowl with the sliced crowns.
• Dry tofu slices on paper towels. In a small bowl or measuring cup combine soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, and stock or water. Combine salt and sugar in another small bowl and garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes in another. Have all ingredients within arm's length of your pan.
• Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil by adding it to the sides of pan and swirling the pan, then add tofu and stir-fry until lightly colored, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Swirl in remaining oil, add garlic, ginger and pepper flakes if using and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add peanuts, all of the broccoli - stems, crowns and flower buds - and red peppers, and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add salt, pepper, and sugar, toss together and add soy sauce mixture. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, until vegetables are crisp-tender, and return tofu to the wok. Add cilantro and stir together for about 30 seconds. Serve with additional soy sauce as desired and hot grains or noodles.

PAN-FRIED BROCCOLI STEMS

Steps:

• Peel broccoli stems and slice crosswise, very thin, about 1/8 inch. (Don't slice paper-thin because then it's too easy to burn them.)
• Heat a heavy skillet over high heat and add enough oil to coat well (about 1/8 inch of oil in the pan). When oil is hot add broccoli stems in a single layer. (Don't add too many at a time because they will cook quickly and you need to turn them all over before they burn.) Turn heat down to medium-high and cook broccoli stems until edges are lightly brown, then flip over with tongs. Cook for 30 seconds to a minute more and remove from oil. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with salt, and let cool for about a minute before eating.
• Continue with all of the broccoli stems, adding oil as needed.