What Are Broccoli florets and How Can I Use Them?

If broccoli florets have turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use them with confidence and how to choose them, cook them, store them, what to substitute, and 677 recipes to try them in.

What are broccoli florets?

Broccoli is usually boiled or steamed, but may be eaten raw and has become popular as a raw vegetable in hors d'œuvre trays. Although boiling has been shown to reduce the levels of suspected anti-cancer compounds in broccoli, other preparation methods such as steaming, microwaving, lactic fermentation, and stir-frying have not been shown to reduce the presence of these compound.

Broccoli is high in vitamins C, K, and A, as well as dietary fiber. It also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, such as diindolylmethane and small amounts of selenium. A single serving provides more than 30 mg of Vitamin C and a half-cup provides 52 mg of Vitamin C.

frozen broccoli florets

Broccoli also contains the compound glucoraphanin, which can be processed into an anti-cancer compound sulforaphane, though the benefits of broccoli are greatly reduced if the vegetable is boiled more than ten minutes. A high intake of broccoli has been found to reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Broccoli consumption has also been shown to be beneficial in the prevention of heart disease.

broccoli florets

Types of broccoli florets

Specific kinds of broccoli florets and the recipes that use them.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup flowerets (71g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 19Calories from Fat 2

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.2g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 19mg 1%

Total Carbohydrate 3.7g 1%

Dietary Fiber ~

Sugars ~

Protein 2.1g

Vitamin A 43% Vitamin C 110%

Calcium 3% • Iron 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find broccoli florets: Broccoli florets are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Broccoli florets are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 西兰花
British (UK) term: Broccoli florets
en français: fleurons de brocoli
en español: floretes de brócoli

How much do broccoli florets weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 cup flowerets	71 grams
1 floweret	11 grams

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Alfalfa sprouts 47 Artichoke hearts 250 Artichokes 82 Asparagus 449 Bamboo shoots 144 Lima beans 129 Green beans 543 Beets 204 Broccoli, frozen 129 Cabbage 684

Recipes using broccoli florets

There are 812 recipes using and its varieties.

Sausage & Broccoli Minestrone Soup

Warm up with this hearty yet thrifty sausage and broccoli minestrone soup. An easy comforting twist on the classic Italian dish, perfect for chilly days.

Daddy's Creamy Broccoli Soup

Rich, restaurant-style creamy broccoli soup with tender florets, buttery broth base, half-and-half, and sharp cheddar for stirring in at the table.

Hearty & Silky Broccoli Soup

Silky broccoli soup purees fresh broccoli with sauteed leeks, potatoes, and chicken broth, finished with half-and-half for a creamy, vivid green bowl. Bright and vegetable-forward.

Dave's Cream of Broccoli Soup

Lighter cream of broccoli soup using skim evaporated milk and sauteed leeks for body, finished with fresh basil and a hint of nutmeg. A leaner take on the diner classic.

Best Creamy Broccoli Soup

Velvety broccoli soup made from scratch with fresh broccoli florets and stems, potatoes for body, and evaporated milk for richness without heavy cream.

Moghul Style Mixed Vegetables with Paneer

Mughlai-style mixed vegetable curry with paneer, cream, pineapple, and golden raisins. A rich, mildly spiced North Indian dish that finishes with a sprinkle of fried nuts for royal-court flair.

Ginger Broccoli Soup

Ginger broccoli soup steeps fresh grated ginger in vegetable stock with cayenne and lemon, then simmers broccoli florets just to tender. A vibrant, brothy bowl with Ayurvedic roots, ready in 40 minutes.

Blender Broccoli Soup

A creamy chilled broccoli soup blended silky smooth with milk, half-and-half, and a hint of nutmeg. Ready in 30 minutes with just a blender, a saucepan, and a handful of ingredients.

Chicken Stir-Fry

Quick Chinese chicken stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, and celery in a savory soy-ginger sauce. Marinate 30 minutes, cook in 10 for a weeknight dinner that beats takeout.

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

Vegan cream of broccoli soup uses blended raw cashews and potatoes for body, no dairy required. Silky, plant-based, and ready in 35 minutes.

Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Spaghetti squash is a healthy, low-carb, gluten-free substitute for regular pasta. One cup of spaghetti squash has 42 calories, 10 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber. The same amount of cooked spaghetti has 220 calories, 43 grams of carbs and 3 grams of fiber.

Favorite Beef & Broccoli

Simple ingredients and authentic technique get this sensational Broccoli Beef stirfry on the table in a flash. Faster than delivery or takeout!

Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce

This delicious spaghetti sauce is loaded with heart healthy ingredients. After trying this sauce, you will always skip the store-bought ones.

Buttery Broccoli Soup

Buttery broccoli soup simmers chopped broccoli with sauteed onions, chicken broth, and rich evaporated milk for a creamy 6-ingredient soup. Puree for smooth, leave chunky for rustic.

Very Cheesy Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cheesy cream of broccoli soup loaded with sharp cheddar, Swiss, and a swirl of sour cream. Blended cashews add silky body to this vegetarian, can-be-gluten-free comfort bowl.

Fillet of Salmon with Anchovies & Tomatoes

Pan-seared salmon with golden crust, bathed in a silky cream sauce spiked with anchovies, tomatoes, and white wine in just 30 minutes.

Breakfast Broccoli Bread Pudding

Make this light yet delicious savoury bread pudding before you go to bed. Then put it in the oven when you get up next day. You breakfast will be ready while you are enjoying your morning coffee.

Grandma's Broccoli Soup

Grandma's broccoli soup: a simple, silky pureed broccoli soup with sauteed onion and vegetable stock, lightened with a splash of warm milk instead of heavy cream. Six ingredients, ready in about half an hour.

Shrimp & Fish with Green Vegetables in Orange Sauce

delicate, a bit spicy dish inspired by Asian cuisine, and stir-fried in my favorite old wok..

Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Easy broccoli cheddar soup made from scratch with a quick butter-flour roux, milk, chicken broth, broccoli florets, and sharp cheddar. A creamy 25-minute weeknight soup recipe.

Mom's Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cream of broccoli soup with butter-sauteed onion and celery, simmered broccoli, and a finishing pour of half-and-half. Smooth pureed soup ready in 40 minutes.

Cheesy Pan-Roasted Broccoli

Pan-roasting prevents the broccoli from becoming limp. A quick rich, cheesy (Swiss, Cheddar or Gruyere) pan sauce captures the caramelized bits of flavor. Bring them together and everyone loves their broccoli!

Stir-Fry for One

Solo stir-fry for one with marinated chicken, beef, or pork tossed with broccoli and celery in a quick ginger-garlic sauce. Single-serving Chinese-style dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Favorite Garlic-Broccoli Soup

Garlic broccoli soup purées a whole dozen blanched garlic cloves with steamed broccoli into a creamy béchamel-based bowl. Rich, comforting, finished with half-and-half and paprika.

Loaded Veggie Oat Burgers

Veggie oat burgers loaded with grated carrot, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, mushrooms, and onion held together with rolled oats, soy sauce, and a touch of flour. Pan-browned then oven-baked for a hearty meatless patty.

Broccoli, Mushroom & Sun-Dried Tomato Tortilla Pizza

Make this tortilla pizza for a quick yet delicious lunch or supper. It's spread with basil pesto, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, topped with broccoli, green bell pepper, mushrooms, onions and sun-dried tomato. Much lower calories and fat, but still tastes yummy.

Beef With Broccoli Stir Fry (New Year)

The secret to this recipe is cooking the beef in 1 cup of oil to seal in the juices, and cooking the broccoli in water to make it crisp and tender. For a more authentic touch, try using Chinese broccoli, which has an appearance and taste similar to asparagus.

Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Classic beef and broccoli stir fry with soy-ginger marinated round steak in a glossy cornstarch-thickened sauce. Takeout favorite, made cleaner at home.

Mom's Cream of Broccoli & Pea Soup

Cream of broccoli and pea soup with puréed fresh broccoli, sweet peas, and silky half-and-half. A classic homemade soup smoother than canned and far brighter in color.

Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup

Creamy broccoli cheese soup made smooth with Velveeta, blended with milk and flour so it never curdles, then enriched with half-and-half. A quick, velvety comfort-food soup in about 40 minutes.

Swiss Broccoli Soup

Quick Swiss broccoli soup with canned chicken gravy as the shortcut base, milk, frozen broccoli, and shredded Swiss cheese. Weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread

Cheesy broccoli cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet, with cottage cheese and cheddar for a moist, rich crumb and tender broccoli and onion throughout. A savory, veg-loaded twist on classic cornbread.

Chicken Vegetable Stir-Fry

A colorful and nutritious dish that combines tender chicken pieces with crisp vegetables in a savory sauce. The combination of flavors and textures in this stir-fry creates a delicious and visually appealing dish that is sure to please everyone at the dinner table.

Lucia's Broccoli & Macaroni

Definitely a quick and easy dish. A very clean taste, cooked bacon bits added some nice smokiness and broccoli lightened up the whole dish with lots of goodness. We used whole grain macaroni that added extra fibre to the dish. This is the kind of dish that kids and grown-ups all enjoy.

Spicy Sesame Beef Stir-Fry

Spicy sesame beef stir-fry with crisp-tender broccoli and sweet peppers in a gingery soy-garlic sauce. The beef is coated in sesame seeds and seared fast for a quick weeknight wok dinner, gluten-free with tamari.

All Time Favourite Broccoli Salad

Classic broccoli salad: raw broccoli, crisp bacon, cheddar, red onion, and sunflower seeds tossed in a sweet-tangy creamy dressing. The crunchy, make-ahead picnic and potluck favorite.

Orange-Sauced Chicken Stir-Fry

Orange-sauced chicken stir-fry coats tender chicken and crisp broccoli in a tangy orange juice and ginger sauce. A homemade takeout-style dinner ready in 25 minutes.

Maccaroni & Cheese with Vegetables

A quick, easy and delicious way to make mac and cheese. Adding some broccoli, bell peppers, and mushrooms makes it more nutritious too.

Broccoli Cheddar Beer Soup

Broccoli cheddar beer soup builds a thick roux-based pot with two pounds of melted cheddar, beef stock, and a splash of beer stirred in just before serving. Pub-style soup at home.

Chick Pea & Yam Stew

Nothing is more cozy and satisfying than a bowl of hearty and warm stew on a chilly day. Chick pea and sweet potatoes are super delicious and filling, and it is totally vegetarian and vegan friendly too.

Broccoli Mushroom Bulgur Salad

A Broccoli Mushroom Bulgur Salad with a hint of sweet and sour essence is a delightful and healthy dish that combines the earthy flavors of broccoli and mushrooms with the nutty taste of bulgur. The salad is then elevated with a tantalizing sweet and sour dressing that adds a burst of flavor to every bite.

Easy Crescent Vegetable Pizza

This easy crescent roll vegetable pizza is a favorite go-to for potlucks, showers, or wherever there's a hungry crowd. Use leftover veggies or your lastest garden harvest for toppings.

Lentil Soup with Steamed Vegetables

I like natural flavors of veggies without any seasoning inc. salt.. I often steam them and serve them as a side to other dishes.. sometimes they are tossed into the soup like in this example.. you may steam various veggies in various seasons of the year..