Anne Willan

Preparing Broccoli

Appears in
top 1000La Varenne Pratique
La Varenne Pratique

By Anne Willan

Published 1989

  • About
Peeled broccoli stems may be combined with florets for soup, or cut into julienne for garnish. Peeling or splitting the raw stems ensures even cooking.
  1. If leaving stems: trim the base of each stem and discard any tough leaves.

  2. With a small paring knife, strip the tough outer skin from the base of the stalk up to the heads.

  3. Split each stalk lengthwise 2-3 times to divide the broccoli.

  4. If separating into florets: lay stems on a board and cut off florets where they start to branch. Break apart any additional stems.