Broccoli can be used in a variety of dishes such as pasta, soup, and stir-fries.
It adds color to dishes and lunch boxes and looks gorgeous.
However, when you are about to use it, you may find yourself saying, “I don’t have any broccoli! That’s what happens sometimes.
Oh no! I don’t have any broccoli. What should I do?
In such a case, it is recommended to use an alternative to broccoli.
In this article, I will introduce some vegetables that can be used instead of broccoli, so please check them out!
What kind of vegetable is broccoli?
Broccoli is a vegetable that originates from the Mediterranean coast and has been eaten since Roman times.
It looks like a miniature tree, with countless branches and tiny green buds attached to the ends.
If left unattended, these buds will turn yellow and eventually bloom, but it is best to eat them while they are still buds, as they lose both taste and flavor when they bloom.
Broccoli is also very nutritious, especially rich in vitamin C.
Each 100 grams of broccoli contains 120 mg of vitamin C, which is more than lemons. It is expected to help relieve fatigue, prevent colds, and beautify the skin.
Broccoli also contains plenty of other nutrients such as vitamin B, iron, beta-carotene, and folic acid, all of which are necessary to maintain a healthy balance in the body.
Broccoli is a vegetable that is generally eaten cooked, and the point is that it can be eaten in a variety of ways such as steaming, boiling, grilling, and simmering.
However, to avoid wasting the nutrients, it is best to cook it in a way that prevents the nutrients from flowing out.
In particular, boiling the broccoli tends to release the vitamins, so microwaving it is recommended!
7 recommended substitutes for broccoli
Substitute for broccoli 1: Asparagus
Asparagus is a spring vegetable like broccoli.
Its texture and sweet taste are similar to broccoli, so it can be substituted without any discomfort.
For example, you can cook it in stews, stir-fry it with seafood, or dip it in mayonnaise, in the same way, you would eat broccoli.
Asparagus is rich in carotene, potassium, and aspartic acid, which have metabolic and fatigue-reducing effects.
However, like broccoli, its overall nutritional value is not that high, and its vitamin C content is quite low at about 15mg per 100g.
Asparagus is a good substitute if you want a similar texture and taste, not nutritional value.
Broccoli substitute 2: Cauliflower
Cauliflower is similar in appearance to broccoli.
The texture is more crunchy than broccoli, and the taste is similar to cabbage.
Although it has a different taste and texture from broccoli, you will not feel too uncomfortable if you substitute cauliflower for broccoli.
Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C and potassium, though not as much as broccoli, and it is also rich in dietary fiber, which helps relieve constipation and reduce swelling.
In terms of nutrition, cauliflower may be a good candidate as a substitute for broccoli.
Broccoli substitute 3: Snap peas
Snap peas are bright green and can be eaten with their pods.
Although they have a different texture, they are sometimes boiled and dipped in mayonnaise, making them a good substitute for broccoli.
Snap peas are easy to cook and can be used in a variety of dishes such as soups and stir-fries without boiling.
It has a slight sweetness and can be eaten as a substitute for broccoli without any problem.
Substitute for broccoli 4: Cabbage
Cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked.
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli.
To begin with, broccoli is a variant of cabbage, so it can be said to be a member of the same family.
Also, cabbage is rich in potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C, so the balance of nutritional value is also similar.
Just because they are in the same family doesn’t mean they taste the same, but they can be a tasty substitute for broccoli.
Cabbage is distributed all year round and is easy to find, so many families have it on hand.
Substitute for broccoli 5: Spinach
Spinach is well known for its high nutritional value.
It is a vegetable that can be easily eaten with both Japanese and Western food, so it has the advantage of being an easy substitute for broccoli.
However, it has a sour taste when cooked as is, so if you are concerned about it, we recommend boiling it quickly to remove the acrid taste.
Looking at the nutritional value of spinach, it is rich in all vitamins and minerals.
In particular, the carotene content is very high among all vegetables, at 5400μg per 100g.
Use spinach instead of broccoli, and you’ll be getting plenty of nutrients!
Substitute for broccoli 6: Green pepper
Bell peppers are characterized by their bittersweet taste.
It’s a typical vegetable that children don’t like.
However, bell peppers are rich in vitamins and are recommended as a substitute for broccoli.
The bitterness of bell peppers is softened when cooked, so try substituting them with a different cooking method.
Also, red bell peppers (red or yellow bell peppers) are more nutritious than green bell peppers, so choose the one that suits your taste.
If you don’t like the bitter taste, you may want to choose bell peppers.
Broccoli substitute 7: Romanesco
Romanesco is characterized by its spiny, broccoli-like appearance.
It is not a major vegetable, but it is popular on social media as a stylish vegetable.
Some say that it is a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, while others say that it is the original species of broccoli and cauliflower.
Either way, it tastes similar to broccoli and has a crunchy texture like cauliflower.
And the cooking method is the same as broccoli, so romanesco is a perfect substitute!
Summary
- Broccoli is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B, iron, beta-carotene, and folic acid.
- Broccoli is a vegetable that can be eaten in a variety of cooking methods, such as steaming, boiling, grilling, and simmering.
- The following seven are recommended as substitutes for broccoli. [Asparagus, cauliflower, snap peas, cabbage, spinach, green pepper, Romanesco].