Easy Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe | Discover a New Side of Broccoli

Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe

If there’s one vegetable that has inarguably experienced a lot of prejudice and disservice through the years, it would be the broccoli. This tasty veggie that looks like a clump of tiny trees has had the worst reputation among its kind.

To be fair to those who dreaded eating boiled broccoli back in their childhood days, they’re not wrong to hate the dish. While it can taste great, it can also end up tasting bitter and unappetizing when it’s overcooked after boiling.

The thing is, there are tons of great ways to prepare this ingredient that won’t create a traumatizing experience for diners. Take this quick and easy air fried broccoli dish, for one.

Learn how to prepare this amazingly tasty and simple dish below.

Ingredients:

2 lbs of broccoli

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp lemon zest

¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

⅓ cup Kalamata olives, halved and pitted

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Wash and break down the broccoli into florets. If you’re also cooking the stalk, peel off the hard layer and then slice them into strips. Drain well.
  2. Pre-heat air fryer to 400F.
  3. Toss the broccoli in olive oil and then place them into the fry basket.
  4. Cook for 15 minutes with the occasional shaking of the fry basket.
  5. Once done, add the cheese, olives, and lemon zest. Mix or toss together, then serve.

Serves 4

Health Benefits of Eating Broccoli:

If you’ve always hated broccoli because of the horrible boiled veggie dinners of your youth, you might be wondering why you should give this produce a second chance. Here are a few health reasons that might just win you over:

  • It has cancer-fighting properties. As it turns out, the bitter-taste in cruciferous vegetables is from the compound known as the sulforaphane. Researchers found out that this substance can help control the growth of cancer cells.
  • It can help you fight signs of aging. Brimming with vitamin C’s antioxidants, broccoli can also help you keep your youthful look by fighting the free radicals in your system.
  • It can help boost your bone health. A cup of this veggie can already provide your daily dose of vitamin K. It can also be a great ingredient to help improve your calcium absorption which can lead to better bone health.
  • It’s rich in natural fiber. Because of this, it can help in improving your digestion and prevent constipation. It can also help you get rid of toxins in your digestive tract. What’s more interesting is that there are studies that this also means that broccoli can help protect you from chronic diseases. So this ingredient can really be one of the best things to eat if you want to improve your overall health.

When eating broccoli, though, don’t just stick with the florets. The stalks and leaves are also very nutritious, so you can benefit from them as well.

You’ll also be able to cut down the waste you make as these parts are also often included when these veggies are sold in supermarkets.

Read More: Air Fryer Oysters Recipe

June Brandt
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