Tag: Broccoli

Dinners

Recipe—Beef Chow Mein

Diva di Cucina

Quick one pot dinners are some of my faves. My husband’s too since he does the dishes. Ha ha! Basically, any noodle bowls are a hit with my family and I love them because they are usually quick, easy, and they are a great way to get an assortment of veggies into the mix. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and it is so versatile. You can swap out the beef for shrimp or chicken and you can really use any veggies you want. I also recommend snow peas, bell peppers, zucchini, and mini corn as great options. The sauce has lots of great flavors that the noodles, meat, and veggies all take on. Just the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy. We also like to serve this with a side of egg rolls or pot stickers to get that whole “take out” vibe.

SAUCE INGREDIENTS
1/3 c soy sauce
3 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp ginger paste
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper 

DISH INGREDIENTS
2 (6-ounce) packages chow mein noodles
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb beef sirloin steak, thinly sliced
2 c cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 c broccoli florets
2 carrots, sliced

STEPS

  • In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the chow mein noodles according to the package instructions. Drain well.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. 
  • Add the beef and cook until browned, about 4–5 minutes.
  • Stir in the mushrooms, broccoli, and carrots. 
  • Cook, stirring frequently, until the veggies are tender, about 3-4 minutes. 
  • Add the cooked noodles and sauce mixture to the skillet and cook until well combined, about 2–3 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy!
Dinners

Recipe—Beef and Broccoli Ramen

Diva di Cucina

I don’t know why I am so late to the game but I recently discovered a love of ramen. Not just the generic pack of dry noodles, but meat and veggie packed delicious ramen. It’s like Top Ramen on flavor packed steroids. I have a couple different recipes that I have been trying out but this one is the most recent one I have come to enjoy. It takes a bit of time to prep in the morning, but then it comes together in about 15 minutes when you get around to cooking it all up. Perfect for all those with busy lives who want a fast and tasty quality meal. By the way, you won’t believe how amazing the marinade smells. I think my mouth was watering the entire time I was making this recipe. Heck, my mouth is watering just writing about it.

Note: I made this recipe using new york steaks and it yielded a very tender meat. You can certainly use a one-pound flank steak for a more budget friendly recipe. If you are short on time in the morning (I mean who isn’t), you can prepare the marinade and slice the meat the night before keeping them separate and then add them to the ziploc bag in the morning. Just don’t marinade the meat overnight.

MARINADE INGREDIENTS
1/4 c vegetable oil
3 tsp garlic, minced
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 c honey
1/2 c soy sauce
1 tbsp parsley (dried or fresh with both work
2 new york steaks, fat trimmed

OTHER INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp grated ginger
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 c beef broth
1/4 c worcestershire sauce
3 c broccoli florets, chopped
3 (3 oz) packages ramen noodles
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 c green onions, chopped

MARINADE STEPS

  • Mix together all the marinade ingredients (except the meat) in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Cut the meat against the grain in 1/4-inch-thick strips.
  • Place the meat in a ziploc bag and poor the marinade into the bag.
    Seal up the bag and place in the fridge to marinade for at least 2–8 hours (no more than 12 hours).

COOKING STEPS

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the ramen for 2 minutes.
  • Strain the noodles in a colander and rinse with cold water.
  • Cut off a bottom corner of the bag over the sink and allow all the marinade to drain out.
  • Transfer the meat to a small bowl and toss with the cornstarch.
  • In a large skillet heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat.
  • Add in the meat and sear on both sides until the meat is cooked but still tender, about 2 minutes.
  • Transfer the steak to a plate.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add the sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, beef broth, and worcestershire sauce to the skillet and bring to a simmer.
  • Stir and cook uncovered until it thickens, about 5–7 minutes.
  • Add the broccoli to the skillet and cover with a lid cooking it for 3 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and add in the meat and pasta.
  • Toss everything to coat and heat for an additional 1–2 minutes.
  • Transfer to bowls or plates and season with crushed red peppers and green onions.

 

Recipe adapted from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

Soups

Recipe—Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Diva di Cucina

It is FINALLY starting to feel like winter in California! We have been having 60–70 degree days in December and January. Not normal! Don’t get me wrong, I love nice weather but one of my favorite things about Cali is that we usually have 4 very distinct seasons. I love being bundled up with a cozy scarf and boots on a cold winter day with a big bowl of soup and it has just not been that kind of winter. Well we just got our first spell of rain in what feels like months! This led me to go into full on soup mode.

Broccoli cheddar soup has always been one of my all time favorite soups. It is so rich, creamy, and filling. (Exactly what you need after you made your new year’s resolutions right?) Well give yourself a cheat day and serve this up with an old-fashioned grilled cheese sandwich for a real winter treat. A perfect warm up for a cold winter day!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 c butter
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 yellow onion, diced
1/4 tsp thyme
3 tbsp flour
3 c milk
3 c chicken broth
1 c heavy cream
2 heads broccoli, chopped
1 c cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 c parmesan, grated
salt
white pepper

STEPS

  • Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  • Add the garlic, onion, and thyme and cook stirring occasionally until the onion is translucent, about 4–5 minutes.
  • Add in the flour and mix until well combined and it starts to brown, about 1 minute.
  • Gradually whisk in milk, broth, and cream.
  • Stir in the chopped broccoli and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the broccoli is tender, about 8–10 minutes.
  • Add in the shredded cheeses and stir until smooth and melted, about 2 minutes.
  • Season to taste with the salt and white pepper.
  • Serve and top with additional shredded cheddar if desired.
  • Serve immediately.
Dinners, Side Dishes

Recipe—Cheesy Broccoli Gratin

Diva di Cucina

I love my raw veggies, I really truly do but sometimes it can be tough to get my little guy to eat enough of them. What better way to get kids to eat their broccoli than covering it in cheese, ooey gooey bubbling cheese? This is a totally decadent way to enjoy the little green trees. The sauce just melts into the broccoli florets and the top gets a perfect little crisp to it. While this is written as a broccoli gratin I added in carrots too since I had them on hand and they needed to get used. It goes great with or without them. I love serving this dish with a side of grilled meat. Yum! Talk about a perfect comfort food for this fall and winter.

Note: Leave out the panko and you have an indulgent low-carb side dish.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb fresh broccoli florets
2 carrots, thinly sliced (optional)
1/3 c mayonnaise
1/3 c milk
1 tsp mustard
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese
2/3 c panko or bread crumbs

STEPS

  • Preheat oven to 350º.
  • Steam broccoli and carrots for a few minutes making sure they still have a little crunch to them.
  • In a large bowl whisk together mayonnaise, milk, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Add in the cheese and stir until combined.
  • Gently mix in the cooked broccoli and carrots until they’re evenly coated.
  • Pour the broccoli mix into a 9” x 9” greased baking dish.
  • Sprinkle the panko over the top
  • Bake for 14–18 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the panko is a golden brown.