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With this Steamed Tenderstem Broccoli and Satay Sauce recipe, you can enjoy a healthy and tasty side dish in just 10 minutes. This dish is packed with flavor, easy to make, and uses only a few basic ingredients, making it perfect for busy evenings. Plus, broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse, so it’s an all-round winner.
Monday through Friday this week, I’m bringing you FIVE great ways to try tenderstem broccoli. Yesterday, I posted my favorite way to cook Pan-Fried Tenderstem Broccoli, and today it’s all about steamed broccolini.
Steaming is considered one of the healthiest ways to cook broccoli. It doesn’t add any additional calories and retains more nutrients than, say, if you were to boil it.
That said, steamed vegetables often need a little help in the flavor department. So, it’s worth putting in a few minutes of time to add some extra flavor. And I’m doing that with a shockingly delicious, creamy satay sauce. Dip, drizzle, or drench – you decide!
Check out more broccolini side dishes here:
Tenderstem Broccoli
If you missed yesterday’s post for Pan-Fried Tenderstem Broccoli with Crispy Red Onions and are unfamiliar with tenderstem broccoli, let me briefly recap.
Tenderstem broccoli, also named broccolini, is a hybrid of Chinese kale and good old standard broccoli. When compared to regular broccoli, it tastes sweeter and nuttier, with a texture that’s much more tender from floret to stem.
Looking for more side dishes that are easy to prepare? Try this Fresh Tomato Salad, Creamy Purple Slaw, or Cauliflower Mash.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: It uses ingredients easily found at your local grocery store.
- Quick and Easy: All you need to do is steam the broccoli and combine the sauce ingredients. It only takes 10 minutes… now that’s a quick side dish!
- Great Flavor Combo: The flavor combination of satay sauce and the broccolini is divine. The nutty and creamy satay sauce complements the crunchy texture of the broccoli perfectly.
- Versatile: You can serve it as an easy side dish with fish or meat or enjoy it on its own as a nutritious and delicious vegan main course. You can also make the satay sauce in advance and store it in the fridge, ready to be used as a dip or added to other dishes.
Health Benefits: Broccoli is an incredibly nutritious vegetable. It is filled with nutrients, which may help fight germs, protect against diabetes, boost the immune system, and support liver and heart health. [Source]
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need to make this easy vegetable side dish.
FOR THE STEAMED TENDERSTEM BROCCOLI
- Tenderstem Broccoli: A long slender broccoli variety that’s so tender you can eat every inch of it. A quick steam is perfect to retain its many nutrients.
- Water for Steaming: Essential for creating the steam to cook the broccolini.
- Sea Salt Flakes: Enhances the natural sweetness of the broccoli during steaming.
FOR THE SATAY SAUCE
- Smooth Peanut Butter: Forms the nutty base and creamy texture of the sauce.
- Gluten-Free Soy Sauce: Provides savory depth.
- Maple Syrup: Adds sweetness and balances the flavors.
- Garlic: Adds aromatic depth.
- Fresh Ginger: Imparts zesty notes.
- Hot Water: To adjust the thickness of the sauce.
- Sesame Oil: Adds a silky texture and subtle nutty flavor.
- Light Coconut Milk: For creamy richness.
- Red Pepper Flakes (optional): For a little heat.
Instructions
This tasty, fresh broccoli dish can be ready in 10 minutes or less with minimal prep and simple ingredients. Check it out in eight simple steps.
These visual step-by-step instructions provide a quick overview of the recipe. You can find the recipe card with the complete list of ingredients and detailed recipe instructions at the bottom of this page. ⇩
1: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic and ginger. Microwave for 20-30 seconds to soften, making mixing easier.
2: Give the satay sauce a good mix.
3: Add the coconut milk and sesame oil.
4: Mix well and see if you like the thickness. Then, add hot water, a little at a time, if you’d like the sauce to be thinner. Set to one side.
5: Next, boil the water in a pot with a steamer tray or basket.
6: Add the steamer tray to the pot, add the broccolini, and sprinkle with a little salt.
7: Place the lid on the pot.
8: Steam for 4-5 minutes or until al dente. So it’s softened but still has a nice crisp bite.
Top Tips
Remove Ends: The ends of tenderstem broccoli stems can be tough, so it’s important to remove them before cooking.
Don’t Overcook: Broccolini will steam in a matter of minutes. You’ll want to steam it until it’s tender but still slightly crisp. Overcooking will make it mushy and unpleasant to eat.
Don’t Oversauce: Add the sauce to the broccoli a little at a time; you can always add more. That said, this sauce is just so good, I don’t think it can be too saucy!
Substitutions
- Tenderstem Broccoli: If you can’t find Tenderstem broccoli, you can substitute regular broccoli florets, long stem broccoli, broccoli rabe, or asparagus.
- Gluten-Free Soy Sauce: You can substitute with tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option. Or you can use regular soy sauce if you can eat gluten.
- Maple Syrup: Honey, agave nectar, or brown rice syrup can be used as alternatives to maple syrup.
- Fresh Ginger: Ground ginger can substitute fresh ginger in a pinch, but use it sparingly.
- Light Coconut Milk: Use full-fat coconut milk if you prefer.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Cayenne pepper or hot sauce can provide the desired heat if you don’t have red pepper flakes on hand.
Variations
- Creamy Sesame: Replace peanut butter with tahini (sesame paste) for a creamy sesame sauce.
- Protein Boost: Toss in cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a complete meal.
- Veggie Medley: Steam other vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or snap peas with the broccolini for a colorful mix.
- Crunch: Sprinkle crushed roasted peanuts or cashews on top for extra texture.
- Citrus: Add a teaspoon of lemon zest or lime zest to the sauce for a zesty kick. Or a squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice over the broccolini once it’s cooked is also delicious.
- Cheesy: Instead of satay sauce, you could add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese or blue cheese crumbles to the steamed tenderstem broccoli.
Serving Suggestions
There are a variety of ways you can serve Steamed Tenderstem Broccoli. Here are just a few suggestions for you to try:
- Side Dish: Serve as a flavorful side dish alongside chicken, fish, or tofu.
- Bowl Meal: Create a hearty bowl by layering the steamed broccoli, rice or noodles, and a protein. Drizzle the peanut sauce generously over the top, and garnish with sesame seeds and fresh herbs.
- Stir-Fry: Incorporate the steamed broccoli and peanut sauce into a stir-fry with other vegetables and your choice of protein for a quick and satisfying one-pan meal.
- Appetizer: Serve as an appetizer by arranging the broccoli on a platter with toothpicks for dipping. It’s a healthy and tasty party snack.
Storage
- Fridge: Store any leftover vegetables and peanut sauce separately in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: While it’s possible to freeze steamed broccoli, the texture may change upon thawing. It’s best enjoyed fresh. But if you do have leftovers, you can freeze them for 2-3 months and use them in soups or casseroles later. However, the sauce freezes perfectly well. Just pop it in a freezer-safe airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Gently reheat the sauce on the stovetop over low heat or microwave at 50% power, occasionally stirring until warmed through. Reheat the broccoli by briefly steaming it again or microwaving it with a splash of water to maintain its texture and flavor.
FAQs
Yes, you can use normal broccoli as a substitute. Adjust the steaming time accordingly, as regular broccoli may take a bit longer to cook.
Yes, you can prepare the peanut sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir it well before using, and you may need to adjust the consistency with a bit of hot water.
If the sauce turns out too spicy, you can balance it by adding more peanut butter, maple syrup, or coconut milk to mellow the heat.
Absolutely! You can increase the spiciness by adding more red pepper flakes, sriracha, or a touch of chili paste according to your heat preference.
You can serve broccolini and peanut sauce with grilled chicken, sea bass, or other white fish, shrimp, tofu, quinoa, or even a fried egg for added protein.
This dish uses gluten-free ingredients. When buying the ingredients for this recipe, check the food labels to make sure you are also using gluten-free ingredients if needed for dietary restrictions.
Yes! The whole vegetable is meant to be enjoyed. The broccoli stems, along with the florets. Just trim off the very end of the stem, as it can be a little tough.
Yes, this tasty vegetable dish is vegan. Just ensure you use a plant-based sweetener like maple syrup and check that your soy sauce is vegan-friendly when buying your ingredients to make this dish.
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Recipe
Steamed Tenderstem Broccoli with Satay Sauce
If you love this recipe, rate it with 5 stars below!
PRINT PIN RATEEquipment
- Cutting Board
- Garlic Press, optional (you can do this with a knife)
- Small Microwave-Safe Bowl
- Small Whisk or Spoon
- Steamer
Ingredients
- 11.5 ounces (320 grams) tenderstem broccoli (or broccolini), rinsed with cold water, tough ends trimmed.
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt flakes
- ½ cup (125 grams) creamy peanut butter, I used smooth
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, gluten-free
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) light coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup hot water, for desired consistency
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (red chilli flakes), optional
Instructions
- Prep: Gather and prepare your ingredients. If any of the broccoli has large and thick stems, use a knife to carefully split them in half lengthwise. This step ensures that all the broccolini cooks evenly.
- Microwave: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Microwave the mixture for 20-30 seconds to soften it. This will make it easier to whisk together. Remove the bowl from the microwave and whisk the ingredients together until they form a smooth paste.Note: If you don't have a microwave, you can do this on the hob in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Add Coconut Milk: Add the coconut milk and sesame oil and mix until well combined. If the sauce is too thick for your liking, add some hot water, a little at a time, until the desired thickness is reached.
- Season: Season with red pepper flakes (optional) and mix through. Sit to one side while you steam the broccolini.
- Boil: Fill a large pot with about 1 inch of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Add Tenderstem Broccoli: Once the water is boiling, add the broccoli to the steamer basket. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Cover the pot and steam the broccoli for about 4-5 minutes or until it's tender but still slightly crisp. Be careful not to overcook; you want the broccoli to remain a bright green color. Once the broccoli is done, remove it from the steamer basket and transfer it to a serving plate.
- Serve: Drizzle some of the satay sauce dressing over the broccoli. There will be plenty left over to use as a dip. Serve immediately as a side dish or as a delicious appetizer.
Notes
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- Fridge: Store any leftover steamed Tenderstem broccoli and peanut sauce separately in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
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- Freezing the Broccoli: While it’s possible to freeze steamed broccoli, the texture may change upon thawing. It’s best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can freeze them for 2-3 months and use them in soups or casseroles later.
- Freezing the Satay Sauce: The sauce freezes perfectly well. Just pop it in a freezer-safe airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
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- Reheating: Gently reheat the sauce on the stovetop over low heat or microwave at 50% power, occasionally stirring until warmed through. Reheat the broccoli by briefly steaming it again or microwaving it with a splash of water to maintain its texture and flavor.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional information is estimated using an online nutrition calculator. For accuracy, we recommend you calculate using the exact ingredients and brands you used.
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