You may be wondering How to Harvest, Steam & Eat Broccoli Leaves and I’m gonna help you grow your own food in the garden! There’s so much more to Broccoli than just the Crowns and Florets!

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

CAN I EAT BROCCOLI LEAVES?

Yes Indeed… You Sure Can Eat Broccoli Leaves! In fact they are quite nutritious for you!
NUTRIENTS IN BROCCOLI LEAVES:
VITAMIN A: good for your vision, boosts your immunity
VITAMIN C: boosts your immunity, wound healing, helps with absorption of iron
FOLATE OR B9: helps with mental health, tiredness, fatigue, and immune system
RIBOFLAVIN OR B2: boosts energy, benefits vision, and improves tiredness and fatigue
PHOSPHORUS: benefits bones and teeth
PANTOTHENIC ACID OR B5: improves energy, mental health, tiredness and fatigue
CALCIUM: good for bones

HOW TO HARVEST BROCCOLI LEAVES:

  • HARVEST LEAVES WHEN THE CROWN IS IN BUD FORM, TUCKED DEEP WITHIN THE LEAVES
    (a little confession, I have harvested a couple leaves before the crown is formed)
  • HARVEST THE OUTTER LEAVES WHICH ARE ABOUT 6 INCHES IN LENGTH
  • YOU CAN CONTINUE TO HARVEST THE LEAVES, AS THEY ARE CUT & COME AGAIN
    (harvesting will actually help promote growth on the broccoli plant)
  • TYPICALLY ONCE THE CROWN IS IN HARVEST SIZE, YOU’LL WANT TO STOP HARVESTING THE LEAVES AS THEY WILL START TO PRODUCE A BITTER BITE TO THEIR ONCE TENDER TASTE.

WHAT DO BROCCOLI LEAVES TASTE LIKE:

Broccoli Leaves Taste a Bit Like Broccoli, a Bit Like Collards, a Bit Like Kale

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

HOW TO STEAM BROCCOLI LEAVES:

  • WASH LEAVES THOROUGHLY
    (this step is very important because little nasties can be hiding within the leaves. I prefer to wash with my fave lil’ colander and then soak within my salad spinner and drain)
  • CHOP OR SLICE LEAVES
  • STEAM
    (this is one of the easiest methods of cooking, I simply ADORE THIS STEAMER takes about 10min)

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

WHAT TO EAT ALONGSIDE BROCCOLI LEAVES:

This of course is a personal preference, however my fave choice of side is simply Rice & Black Beans!
I mean seriously, why wouldn’t you want this much nutrition in one bowl?
Yet another huge benefit of my FAVE Rice Cooker which is also my Steamer!
This Steamer/Rice Cooker has changed my life, in fact I have the Larger Size on it’s way!
It makes cooking my favorite foods like Veggies, Rice, Quinoa, & Oatmeal so EASY…I LOVE it So Much!
The black beans, I prepare prior to cooking my rice in the rice cooker, then I layer the black beans on top of the cooked rice at the end of the cooking cycle simple to warm up the beans.
Season with a little Pink Himalayan Salt (yet again more nutritious values)

photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC

So there ya have it friends….a bowl of nutrients part of which you grown all on your own!
Go on, give it a try…If you enjoy Kale, You’ll enjoy Broccoli Leaves!

A QUICK SHOPPING LIST FOR MY FAVES MENTIONED:

Thank you for enjoying my Blog!
I sure do appreciate it and would love to hear from you in the comments!
Peace, Love, and Simple Living Friends!
~Erin

IF INTERESTED, HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE BLOG