On Healthy Living

Time: 25 minutes

1 medium head broccoli
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons olive oil
2½ tablespoons thinly sliced garlic cloves
¼ to ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
½ teaspoon finely grated orange peel.

1. Rinse broccoli. Cut off thick stem where it meets slender stalks, and reserve. With sharp paring knife separate stalks into florets, leaving stems about 1½ inches long on each. Cut pieces in two lengthwise and lay flat-side down. Cut each piece lengthwise in two and repeat until you have 3-inch-long carved floret and stem pieces of approximately equal thickness (about ½-inch) top to bottom. Peel tough skin from stems, and cut crosswise into ¼-inch medallions. There should be 12 ounces of broccoli, about 7 cups. Set aside.

2. Toast sesame seeds in large nonstick skillet over low heat until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to small bowl, and set aside.

3. Place olive oil and garlic in skillet over low heat. Toast garlic, stirring frequently, until garlic is deep golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add pepper flakes to hot oil, and stir. Transfer to small bowl, and set aside. Toss broccoli, salt and ¼ cup water in same skillet, cover and set over high heat. Cook until broccoli is tender, shaking pan and stirring once, 4 minutes. Uncover skillet (water should be gone), and toss. Stir in garlic and oil, oyster sauce and orange peel. Transfer to warm serving platter, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Yield: 4 to 6 side dish servings.

cathy danh wrote this on March 30th, 2005 and filed it under Healthy Recipes |