You want to make a healthy side dish, but you are feeling uninspired. This refreshing cold broccolini salad is a great option for your next meal. Preparing the ingredients for this recipe will save you time and make it delicious.
Why would you eat chilled broccoli?
Although cold seasoned broccolini salad may sound unappetizing at first, it was delicious the second time I tried it. After trying it at Kemuri Tatsuya in Austin, with the delicious sesame sauce and delicious broccolini salad, I changed my mind. Although I have had cold broccolini salads with raw broccolini in the past, this cold version is so much more enjoyable.
Sesame seasoning/dressing
After trying the cold-seasoned broccolini at Kemuri Tatsu ya in Austin, I was so infatuated with their yogurt cashew daze seasoning / dressing that I decided to create a copy at home. Dare (or goma dae) is a Japanese sesame condiment made from nerigoma, soy sauce and mirin. Although it is most commonly used to dip meat in shabu-shabu, this sauce can also be used as a condiment.
To give the seasoned broccolini a kick and texture, I sprinkled togarashi and roasted sunflower seeds on top. If you don’t have any of these toppings at home, you can add them to the dish with roasted almonds and red pepper flakes.
How to cook broccolini
There are two ways to cook broccolini in this recipe. You can either steam or boil them. Steaming broccolini is my favorite method because it preserves the most nutrients. I steam the broccolini for five to seven minutes, or until they are easy to pierce using a fork.
After the broccolini has been cooked, I drain it in a colander. Then, I rinse the broccolini under cold water until it is completely chilled. Then, I chill the broccolini in a container or on a plate in the refrigerator while I prepare the seasoning.
What can I do to make broccolini taste better?
This recipe uses goma dare to flavor the broccolini. But don’t let it stop you from using other seasonings. These are other seasoning combinations:
- Zesty: Lemon juice, parmesan and salt and pepper
- Spicy: Garlic powder, paprika and cayenne, salt, and pepper
- Italian-inspired: Extra virgin olive oil, dried Oregano and garlic powder, salt, pepper
Is it possible to prepare broccolini ahead?
This recipe is great because you can make both the dare and broccolini ahead of time. Keep the broccolini, dare and cheese in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the dish. Broccoli cooked in butter will keep for up to three days in the fridge.
Can you eat broccolini cold?
Cold-cooked broccolini can be eaten, provided it is kept in an airtight container in a refrigerator. According to the FDA, leftover food should be kept within two hours after being prepared or served. Broccoli can be cooked for up to three days.
Other Vietnamese salad:
- Gỏi Bắp Chuối – Banana Blossom Salad
- Bò Tái Chanh – Rare Beef in Lime Juice Salad
- Gỏi Gà – Chicken Salad
Cold Broccolini Salad with Sesame Dressing recipe
Equipment
- Cutting board and knife
- Pan or pot and steamer
- Tongs
- Plate
- small mixing bowl
- balloon whisk
Ingredients
ASSEMBLY
- 1 bunch broccolini cut into 2-inch sections
- 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
- water for rinsing and steaming
- togarashi
GOMA DARE / DRESSING
- 1 tbsp nerigoma or tahini
- ½ tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tbsp white miso
- 2 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp hot water
- 1 tsp dashi powder
- 1 tsp roasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp rice vinegar
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- The broccolini should be prepared by removing the hard ends about one inch below the stem. Once they are removed, cut them into 2-inch sections. After soaking the broccolini in cold water for five minutes, rinse them off. Drain the water.
- Place the steamer in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil. Once steam appears on the top of the pan, add the broccolini. Cover the pot. Let them steam for five minutes, or until they are easily pierced with a fork.
- To stop the cooking, place the broccolini in a colander. The colander should be kept in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes
- Combine the white miso and dashi with sugar, garlic powder, hot water, and sugar in a bowl. Mix until everything dissolves.
- Mix the remaining goma dare ingredients into the bowl and stir until well combined. Adjust according to your taste.
- Mix the broccolini in a large bowl. Add two tablespoons of goma dare to the bowl. Add sunflower seeds and togarashi to the top. Serve immediately
