BROCCOLI TIKKA/ GRILLED BROCCOLI/ AN INCREDIBLE STARTER WITH BROCCOLI
Broccoli Tikka, or grilled broccoli, is bursting with flavors as it is prepared by marinating with seasoned curd and chickpea flour as the first step. This grilled snack is ideal to have as an appetizer or Entrée before your dinner. This is soft and juicy from inside with a crisp and golden brown crust. And this is the best part of this yummy snack. Like cauliflower, broccoli also belongs to the Cruciferous family, which absorbs all the flavors in which it is cooked. This veggie is so versatile that it can make several delicious dishes from soups and salads to breakfast and main course
WHAT IS BROCCOLI TIKKA ?
Tikka is a key term used in the culinary world to refer the small and boneless pieces of meats, veggies and paneer that are marinated and grilled or roasted in tandoors. Tandoors are customized ovens made with iron and mud and are used in commercial kitchens in the Indian subcontinent. At homes, tandoors are replaced by grills and small ovens.
The making process of broccoli tikka is very easy and fuss free. In fact, you don’t need a long list of ingredients. Broccoli is Chopped into the bite size florets and then blanched for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile a marination is prepared with curd, chickpea flour, mustard oil, salt, and a few regular spices. Blanched brocolli florets are coated well with the marination and refrigerated for 20 minutes to set nicely. These marinated florets are placed on the baking tray to roast or grill for 15-20 minutes each side. Mustard oil is a game changer. Brush the broccoli tikke with mustard oil half way and they comes out perfectly cooked with juicy texture with golden brown and somewhere charred hues all around
Prep Time – 30 minutes
Cook Time – 30 minutes
Course – appetizer, Entrée
Cuisine – Indian fusion
Author – Bharti Dhawan
● INGREDIENTS REQUIRED
• Broccoli – 1 flower head(600-700 g)
• Hung curd – 1/2 cup 3-4 tbsp
• Besan/gram flour – 1 tbsp
• Ginger-chilly-garlic paste – 1 tbsp
• Salt – 2 tsp /to taste
• Red chilly powder – 1 tsp /to taste
• Roasted cumin powder – 1 tsp
• Amchur/dry mango powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Lemon juice – from half a lemon / 1 tbsp
• Mustard oil – 2 +2 tbsp
● PREPARATIONS TO BE DONE
• Chop the broccoli into medium-sized florets (with stems)
• Blanch broccoli florets until they are little tender. Drain the water and allow them to cool to marinate them
• To make the marination, take a mixing bowl and add hung curd, besan, mustard oil, ginger-chilly-garlic paste, salt, cumin powder, red chilly powder, amchur powder, and a pinch of turmeric powder
• Mix all the above stuff nicely and add blanched broccoli florets. Coat them well with the marination and refrigerate for a minimum of 20-25 minutes
● HOW TO GRILL BROCCOLI TIKKA
1- Preheat the oven to grill mode for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange marinated broccoli florets on the baking dish a little far apart
2- Grill the broccoli florets for 20 minutes and then flip them carefully with the help of tongs to grill the other side. Brush them with mustard oil when one side is done. Oil keeps them juicy and prevents them from drying
3- Grill the broccoli florets on the other side for 15 minutes. When broccoli tikka is done to perfection, switch off the oven and take the baking dish out of the oven carefully
● SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve broccoli tikka with any condiment of your choice. It goes well with green chutneys, tomato ketchup, or any yoghurt-based dips
I love to eat these delicious broccoli tikke with yoghurt-based dip
● NOTES AND TIPS
1- Broccoli tikka can be cooked in an air fryer
2- Broccoli tikka can be pan-fried or shallow-fried in little oil by turning at intervals
● YOU MAY ALSO LIKE A FEW DISHES WITH BROCCOLI
