9 Delicious Broccoli Recipes The Kids Won't Say No To
Broccoli isn't a vegetable that many children love, but these yummy recipes will have your kids changing their minds
By Simone Wu -
Tired of cooking vegetables and having your kids not eating them? Instead of making vegetables as a dish on their own, try to make them a smaller part of the meal instead. These recipes use broccoli as a complement to other ingredients as opposed to the main star of the dish.
But if so many young children dislike broccoli, why should you still incorporate them into your meal plans? Well, broccoli is one of the few vegetables that has it all — it is high in many nutrients, including fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and potassium. It also has more protein than most other vegetables, and so, will make you feel full. Broccoli is known as a cruciferous vegetable that is said to help prevent cancer. In fact, a review of research published in the October 1996 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that 70 per cent or more of the studies found a link between cruciferous vegetables and its protection against cancer.
Crucifers such as broccoli have disease-fighting phytochemicals known as sulforaphane. According to Dr Michael Greger, American doctor and author of How Not to Die, cruciferous vegetables are an essential food group to eat as they contain sulforaphane. This has also been stated by scientific journals to prevent or treat breast cancer, as it acts against the metabolic changes in oestrogen. Children, too, are less likely to develop asthma if they ate one to two cups of lightly steamed cruciferous vegetables. (Yes to broccoli recipes!)
Thankfully, broccoli is easy enough to incorporate into your meals. They can be eaten raw, steamed, fried, roasted, grilled, sauteed and baked. Steaming would be the healthiest way as it would help retain most of its nutrients. Use the stalk and chop the florets – here are some broccoli recipes that use this super veggie.
This zucchini and cheese pizza uses broccoli to replace the usual dough base for a healthy meal. It's also a cheaper and healthier alternative to traditional pizza dough.
Fibre and antioxidant-rich, this vibrant quinoa salad, with its delightful mix of textures, makes a wonderfully refreshing lunch.
This has not one but two cruciferous vegetables to get you the nutrients you need. Who says eating healthy has to be boring? Have an alfresco meal with the family and dive into this beautiful galore of colours.
This is the perfect dish to cook for your daily dinner as it’s filled with all the nutrients you need to get you going. Braised in soy and oyster sauce, the mushrooms are cooked to soft and tender. The fatt choy (black moss) also gives the dish an added texture.
Create a work lunch that’s easy, impressive and seriously delicious with this miso bowl recipe. This is a meal where you can easily prepare the night before and enjoy a veggie-packed, gluten-free meal in the office.
Who doesn't love this cheesy cauliflower and broccoli side dish? Great with roast dinners, and a clever way to make otherwise boring vegetables tastier for kids.
This yummy dish consists of buttery cauliflower, broccoli and leak topped with a golden crust of cheeses and breadcrumbs. Baked prosciutto slices are broken over the top to finish.
As if soaking vegetables and pasta in mouth watering tomato pasta is not enough, these pasta shells also contain tuna, making the burst of ingredients in your mouth oh-so-gratifying.
This article was published on March 4, 2020, and updated on Aug 20, 2023.