Steamed broccoli is a regular dish on my family’s meal plan.

Here are my Four Best Low-Carb Broccoli Recipes.

Broccoli is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and fiber

It is fat and cholesterol free and is low in carbohydrates and sodium. Broccoli is a vegetable in the cabbage family. Broccoli is not man made, but is easy to grow in your home garden. It makes a good option for container gardening as well. Broccoli has been farmed since the sixth century BC. It was very popular among Romans. Today, China leads the world in Broccoli production at almost ten million tons annually.

Broccoli is easy to cook.

We steam broccoli it in the microwave. I also like to make it in a saucepan with a steamer basket when we’re camping. We make it from fresh broccoli from the produce department or the frozen varieties. The steam in bag option is quick and simple, but I am concerned about cooking in plastic as well as the packaging going into the recycling can. I feel best about it when we use fresh broccoli and a glass casserole dish.

Broccoli with melted cheese is a very popular dinner time side dish. Just put enough cheese on it and they’ll eat it, right?

I avoid recipes with sauces and seasonings that add carbohydrates and fat to otherwise very healthy food options.
As in any family, dinner is a balance of meeting different family member’s dietary requirements as well as taste preferences. I enjoy plain steamed broccoli but readily admit that I don’t want to eat it that way all the time. This is by far the healthiest way to enjoy cooked broccoli. Plain steamed broccoli can get old after a while. It’s nice to have some variety.

Here are some of the best ways to top steamed broccoli as a side dish.

Parmesan and Poppy Seed Butter – Buttery and cheesy and I think my favorite way to top steamed broccoli.
Steam 2 Cups of broccoli. In a separate dish, combine ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, 1/8 teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper and a dash of salt. Microwave enough to melt the butter and toss this over the broccoli. Top with grated parmesan cheese as you are plating the meal.

Broccoli Piquant – Lemony and buttery and a nice change of pace.
For two cups of steamed broccoli florets, combine the following in a small dish: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon low-sodium Worcestershire sauce and a dash of salt. Microwave long enough to melt the butter and drizzle over the steamed broccoli.

Seasoned salt and black pepper – Ultra easy and tasty.
Steam Broccoli and add salt and pepper to taste and dietary requirements.

Cooking time to steam broccoli will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave, whether the broccoli is frozen or fresh, the amount of broccoli you are cooking at once and how cooked you like it. I make two cups of frozen broccoli for my wife and I. We cook it in a 1100 watt microwave for approximately 6 minutes 30 seconds. This is longer than recommended for best nutritional retention, but cooked enough to satisfy our dislike of the crisp texture of the stalk. Learning to cook broccoli takes some practice. Pay attention to the variables and you will find a cooking time that works for your microwave as well as your taste preferences.

Steaming vegetables in the microwave is a one shot deal.
If you stop the cooking to open the dish, you let the heat out, and have to extend the cooking time to get it back to boiling. Pick a cooking time and try it. If it’s not done enough, next time go maybe twenty to thirty seconds longer. If it’s overcooked, reduce the cooking time slightly. After a few rounds, you will find what works best for you. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t suit your tastes the first time you try to steam broccoli in the microwave.