Content

• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

• When the water is about to boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt. Adding salt to boiling water is not only to add seasoning, but also to increase the water temperature. This makes the food more efficient!

Prepare ice for soaking. While the water is boiling, fill a large bowl with a few ice cubes with cold water and set the bowl of water aside.

Blanch broccoli. When the water starts to boil, carefully place the broccoli in the pot of water. Start counting the blanching times when the water boils again.

• For broccoli stalks about 4 cm wide, it takes about 3 minutes to blanch. You can adjust the blanching time depending on the size of the branch.
• The broccoli will be light and firm (though softened) when you take it out of the pot.

Cool broccoli. You can remove the broccoli with a hole spoon or a small sieve or drain basket. Then, immediately add broccoli to ice to reduce the temperature.

• Remove broccoli that has been cooled in cold water after 30 seconds and drain into a basket to drain.

Prepare and wash the broccoli. Cut the broccoli into stalks of the same size to cook evenly.

Prepare for steaming. Pour 2.5 - 5 cm of water into a saucepan and heat on the stove. Put broccoli in a steamer placed above the water surface. Cover the pot and prepare the ice for soaking as described above.

• Lay the broccoli in a layer so it doesn't overlap to make sure it's steamed evenly.

Calculate the delay time. You will calculate the blanch time as soon as the steam is rising.

• Steaming the broccoli will take about 5 minutes.
• After poaching for half the time, open the lid and make sure the broccoli doesn't stick together and is steamed evenly.

Complete the blanching. After the broccoli has been soaked in cold water, place the broccoli in a dry basket before serving or pack it to freeze. advertisement

Advice

• Place the blanched broccoli in an airtight plastic bag and freeze for later use.
• Poached broccoli can be eaten with sauces or salad dressing.
• Warm broccoli for 1 to 2 minutes when eaten with other dishes.
• Mix broccoli into pasta or stir fry before finishing the main course.

Warning

• Blanching for more than 2 minutes will cause the broccoli to discolour and soften.
• Not using enough water and just submerging a part of the broccoli will cause the broccoli to not ripen evenly. You should submerge the broccoli in water when blanching.

What you need

• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Cauldron
• Country
• Salt
• Broccoli
• Big bowl
• Basket
• Spoon with hole or sieve with long handle
• Steamed pork belly