During my earlier days when I started to cook for my family, I always discard the broccoli stems and only make use of the florets part for stir-frying and steaming broccoli dishes. That all changed when my mother-in law caught me throwing away the stem and told me not to waste the stem as we can use it when preparing soup.Think of all the stems I have thrown away in the past! Horror! Guilt!
Since then, whenever I bought broccoli, what I do is:
* Clean and wash the broccoli
* Use up the florets part for stir-frying / steaming dishes
* Keep the stem part in freezer if I am not using it immediately
* Use the stem part for my soup making days (just add into the pot before preparing the soup)
Benefits of broccoli stems:
Broccoli stems are as nutritious as the broccoli crown. One hundred grams of broccoli stems contains 28 calories, 2.98 grams of protein, 48 milligrams of calcium, .88 milligrams of iron, 25 milligrams of magnesium, 325 milligrams of potassium, 27 milligrams of sodium and 400 IU of vitamin A. One hundred grams of broccoli florets contains identical nutrition information, making broccoli stems just as healthy and vitamin-packed as the more visually appealing broccoli florets. ~ Source
Now that you know this, do give it a try! Keep the broccoli stems and use them when you prepare soup next time!
Further reading:
* Conscientious Cook: Good Uses for Broccoli Stalks
* 7 Ways to Use Broccoli Stalks
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