Everyone knows broccoli is healthy. It’s basically the old school poster child for “superfoods” before kale and everything else trendy came on to the scene. Vitamins, minerals, tons of fiber, yes, that’s obvious, but what else is so special about broccoli that should make you put down the kale and reach for it more often ? I recently came upon an article that addressed this. The answer is that it contains an extremely potent anticancer, and anti-neurodegenerative compound called Sulforaphane.
Sulforaphane is found in broccoli and some other veggies such as radishes, cabbage, arugula, watercress and Brussels sprouts. What’s unfortunate is that when you eat all these cooked, the compound is decreased dramatically. However, by combining Sulforaphane-rich foods together in a dish WITH a spice it greatly increases the healing properties. Pretty cool huh?!
So, after reading about all that, I tried to pair up some veg to make a dish which might be both harmonious taste wise and health wise. What I created is absolutely perfect for summer, minimally cooked for ease, and will keep all those good enzymes intact.
This recipe can please a whole range of diets, it’s practically raw, and if you omit the goat cheese it’s perfectly paleo, while as is being vegetarian, gluten and grain free!
Spicy Lemon Garlic Broccoli Noodle Salad, with Radish and Goat Cheese
- 2 heads organic broccoli heads, with thick, straight stems
- juice of one lemon
- 1 bunch radishes of your choice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps Ghee or Olive oil
- 1 tbsp crushed chili flakes
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup fresh, local organic goat’s milk cheese crumbles or similar
Instructions:
Wash your veggies, and cut up your broccoli florets. Steam them no more than 4 minutes to preserve nutrients. With your Spiralizer (I like this one) make noodles out of your broccoli stems. Heat 2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil over medium-low heat in a large saucepan, and saute your noodles, incorporating the florets, garlic, chili flakes and lemon juice only AFTER the noodles have slightly softened. Usually after about 4 minutes. toss everything about together for another couple minutes, and transfer to a serving dish to cool a bit. Once room temperature, add sliced radish, goat cheese and more drizzles of olive oil if desired.
Enjoy! Cheers you your health!
