A standard on every family holiday table, broccoli casserole is a great traditional side dish.
Preparing the Broccoli
Casseroles are a great side dish because they can be set up before hand and cooked when needed, freeing the cook to focus on other dishes and the entrée. In this recipe, we will blanch and shock the broccoli before we put it into the casserole dish. Blanching is when you drop the broccoli into salted boiling water for a minute, take it out, and drop it into ice water. This cooks the broccoli slightly so it won't be too tough, but the ice water stops the cooking so it won't be overcooked.
Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Once your broccoli is blanched, you're ready to make your casserole
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup Panco or plain breadcrumbs
- Butter
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Trim the florets from the stems of the broccoli.
- Well salt a large pot of water and bring it to a boil.
- While waiting for the water to boil, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
- Once the water is boiling, place the broccoli into the water and let it boil for one minute.
- Take the broccoli out of the boiling water and place it into the ice water.
- Once the broccoli is cold, place it into a 2-quart casserole dish that has been greased with butter or sprayed with non-stick spray.
- In a large saucepan, add the oil and diced carrots and sauté until soft.
- Add the mushrooms and sauté until soft.
- Add the garlic to the pan.
- Sauté the garlic for one minute or until it becomes fragrant.
- Mix the corn starch and vegetable broth and add them to the vegetables.
- Simmer while stirring until thick.
- Add vegetable mixture to the broccoli in the casserole dish and stir to mix.
- Cover with the breadcrumbs and dot with butter.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the casserole and cook for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Here's another tasty casserole to try.
Ingredients
- 5 cups precooked rice
- 2 (10 ounce) packages of frozen chopped broccoli, lightly steamed or 3 cups fresh chopped, steamed broccoli
- 1 can (10.75 ounce) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.75 ounce) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup water
- 1 pound grated mild cheddar or American cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 white onion
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rice and broccoli should be pre-cooked.
- In a medium saucepan, cook minced onion in butter until softened and translucent. Add condensed soup and water and cook until it is hot.
- Add 2/3 of the cheese and blend well until it is melted, stirring constantly to keep the cheese from burning and sticking on the bottom of the pan.
- Blend rice, broccoli, and remaining cheese in a 13" x 9" baking pan. Pour the soup cheese mixture over it.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake for 45 minutes until it is bubbly and golden.
A Delicious Alternative to Plain Broccoli
If your family isn't too keen on eating their broccoli, these recipes just might convince them this vegetable is tastier than they thought. Try one of these side dishes with your next dinner and don't be surprised if someone asks for seconds.
