What can I do with a lot of broccoli stems?

[Katie E]

I have quite a few fresh broccoli stems. They're all cleaned and peeled and ready to be prepared. Does anyone have any ideas? I would hate to toss them in the compost bin.

[siduri]

pureed cream of broccoli soup?
if you're talking about home food, not restaurant, you can use them like any broccoli - try this: cut in pieces, sautee with olive oil and lots of garlic and a little hot pepper till soft (not crispy, in this case). Cook short pasta (rigatoni, penne, etc) and then drain and mix with the broccoli - very tasty.

[phatch]

I actually like the stems better than the florets. Treated as above would be good.

You can also use them slivered and uncooked for a slaw.

Phil

[IMAsensation]

Yumm!! What kind of olive oil is the tastiest to use? I have been told that extra virgin oil is the best, is this true. Thank!

[Pinot]

I find Broccoli stems make very fine compost !

[kuan]

In one hotel restaurant I worked, we used to cook them, puree, mix with cream and eggs, make a veggie terrine with other veggie scraps. We served this as the "veg 'o' day" or on its own as an appetizer.

[siduri]

IMAsensation- yes, extra virgin has all the flavor, it's simply pressed olive juice. If you can find the unfiltered kind, it doesn't look as nice but tastes even better (and is often cheaper, at least here)
Other olive oil is produced chemically - they grind the olives and then wash the oil out chemically - which leaves chemical traces, which can't be good for you, and which takes out all the best flavor.

phatch - i'm with you. I was really surprised when i was in the states last and saw broccoli without the stems in the supermarket. The stems have a nice texture (if peeled) and it's such a waste to throw them out.

forgot to say, for the pasta recipe, they should cook VERY slowly, and sort of melt, that is become soft, and also forgot to say you can do it with the whole broccolo or with cauliflower or broccoflower or even zucchine

[JonK]

Peel them, then shred them for broccoli slaw. Add shredded carrot, onion, red pepper, red cabbage, etc. for color and flavor accent.

[pablopabla]

Stir-fry chinese style with other vegetables like cauliflower and carrots. I have the recipe in my website.