Sometimes, the way to brighten a dull day is to imagine a treat. Something to look forward to when you get in from work. Something that probably you can only get away with when your significant other is away.
Well, the Bear is away…and that means I can indulge myself. I can go wild and he won’t look at me with a slightly anxious expression, worried that I will force him into joining me in my chosen delights.
It’s not drink…. or illicit substances… or even some strange practice… it’s…..
Broccoli.
Beautiful, bold brassica.. the bright green and slightly bitter broccoli. I love it.
And when I can, I come home to a huge bowlful of it. One of my favourite ways to eat it is with a pseudo-Thai green curry sort of sauce, except it is not a sauce, it is a fragrant and sweetly spiced cooking liquid.
It’s quick to make and incredibly low calorie and oh-so-good for you.
I always have the ingredients for the Thai green curry sort of sauce in my cupboards because you never know when you may be able to get away with making broccoli, just broccoli, for supper. They also come in handy for when I want to make Thai Green Curry soup.
Onion, ginger and garlic. Some coriander.
Some green Thai curry paste
Thai basil, if you can get it
and kaffir lime leaves.
You will also need coconut milk – either a tin of it, or coconut milk powder that you can make up – and some stock granules.
Start by chopping some onion into decent sized pieces and start to saute them in a large pan.
Chop your broccoli stem into pieces and separate the florets.
Add the stem to the pan with half a cup, say, or water so it doesn’t burn and and a quarter inch of peeled and finely chopped ginger, and a clove of garlic, also finely chopped.
Add a heaped teaspoon of Thai green curry paste, the same of kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil. Stir it round and smell that gorgeous, aromatic spicy steam billowing up.
Let the stem and the onion soften slightly then add the florets.
Give them all a stir and let them steam for a couple of minutes
Mix three heaped dessertspoonsful of coconut milk powder (or a can of reduced fat coconut milk) and add a teaspoonful of vegetable stock granules, mixing it round well
Pour that delicious mix over the broccoli and let it steam through for another couple of minutes….
And then?
Dish it up, my darlings!
A beautiful bowl of broccoli… think of it as thai green broccoli soup… without much soup.
Packed full of goodness…. and that, well, that is one of my secret delights.