If you’re chopping the florets off the broccoli and throwing away the stalk you’re missing out. The stalk has that delicious broccoli flavour and can be used in so many ways. My broccoli stalk and sesame soup recipe is one of the things I like to use the stalks for but you can also chop them finely and add them to stir fries, pasta dishes and roasted veg.
Ingredients
You will need (for four portions):
- Oil for frying
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 1 celery stick, roughly chopped
- Broccoli, a mix of stalks and florets around 350g
- 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
- 400ml hot vegetable stock
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Sesame oil for drizzling
Method
Start by adding a little oil to a large saucepan over a medium heat.
Add the onion and celery to the pan and fry for five minutes until the vegetables are starting to soften.
Tip the broccoli and garlic into the onions and continue frying for five minutes more. You want the broccoli and onion to start turning brown at the edges as it gives the soup a wonderful toasty flavour.
Pour in the hot stock, bring everything to the boil then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove the soup from the heat, add a little salt and plenty of pepper and blend until smooth.
Serve the soup with the sesame seeds sprinkled on top with a drizzle of sesame oil.
The thing I love most about this broccoli stalk soup is that it makes the most of something that might otherwise have been wasted. Cooking it up with a few other ingredients I almost always have in the kitchen makes a meal in minutes from barely anything. This soup freezes really well but don’t freeze it with the sesame seeds and oil, add those once you’ve reheated it.
What a terrific way to use broccoli stalks! I usually cut them up into rather small pieces and just cook with the florets. But not always. 🙂 So I’ll definitely be trying this — thanks.
I like to cook them that way too but sometimes it can mean a bit too much broccoli!
A very clever use of broccoli stalks! The soup looks absolutely tasty and healthful!
Thanks Angie! The sesame works so well with the broccoli.
Whoopee! I am now converted! No more throwing away the broccoli stalks! Thank you!
Hi Fran, that’s great news!
Thank you for direction my attention to be more frugal these days ! Pinning 🙂
You can do the same with cauliflower stalks too!
Ahhh you caught me, Caroline! I am guilty of throwing away the stalks. Thanks so much for the recipe. No more waste!
Thanks Kelly, they’re definitely worth keeping.
I always felt I was wasting something very precious when I throw away the stalks. Now I know for sure. I love the combination of the broccoli and sesame … they go together so well!
They do don’t they David? They are certainly worth keeping to cook with.
Caroline, I love this recipe! Mostly because I love finding ways to use the portions of foods I normally can’t find a use for. Definitely saving my stalks from now on! Hope you’re well and staying safe!
Thank you Laura. I hope you enjoy making something with your future stalks! We are all well thank you, hope you are too.