Turning waste to taste: The broccoli stem snack revolution
Broccoli stems often end up in the bin, but you can create a delicious and healthy snack from them. Simply grate them, combine with a few ingredients, and place them in the oven to enjoy crispy sticks. Learn how to make use of broccoli fully and avoid wasting food.
Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable; we usually consume only the florets, neglecting the stem. However, it is full of flavour and nutrients. Instead of discarding it, prepare sticks from it. This dish is exceptionally easy to make and requires only a few ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
It's worth draining excess water from the broccoli
The secret to perfect sticks lies in preparing the broccoli stem correctly. After grating, drain the excess water thoroughly – this ensures the mixture has a better consistency and the sticks bake evenly. You can also experiment with the seasoning: I add oregano and smoked paprika, but other spices are welcome, too. I use cornmeal, which is a great option as it's gluten-free, but regular wheat flour also works.
Recipe for broccoli sticks
Ingredients:
- 1 broccoli stem,
- 1 egg,
- 50g grated mozzarella or Parmesan,
- 150g cornmeal or wheat flour,
- 1 teaspoon oregano,
- half a teaspoon granulated garlic,
- half a teaspoon smoked paprika,
- half a teaspoon baking powder,
- olive oil,
- salt and pepper.
Preparation:
- Peel the broccoli stem of the tough outer skin and grate it using a grater with large holes.
- Place the grated stem on a clean kitchen cloth or paper towel and squeeze out the excess water firmly.
- In a bowl, mix the grated and drained broccoli stem with flour, egg, grated cheese, two tablespoons of olive oil, and spices. Add baking powder to make the sticks fluffy.
- Knead the mixture until it forms a flexible dough. If it's too dry, add a little water or milk.
- Divide the dough into equal portions and shape them into thin sticks. Place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Brush the sticks with olive oil and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 15-20 minutes or until they are golden and crispy.
