I still remember the first time I tried raw broccoli. Simon & I were studying to become professional raw food chefs and staying at the Living Light Inn with some of the other raw food chef students. Since we didn’t have a stove to steam our broccoli, we decided to eat it raw. After a few bites, it felt like I had a rock in my stomach. My body clearly wasn’t digesting the raw broccoli very well! Nowadays, my stomach has well adapted. However, I can imagine that this might not be the case for you. This recipe for Cheesy Chili Broccoli Bites will show you how to create a softer ‘cooked’ taste & texture without actually cooking the broccoli. You can always choose to steam your broccoli and use the marinade as a cheesy topping too. As long as you enjoy your broccoli, I am happy ☺
Cheesy Chili Broccoli Bites
SERVES: 4 people
EQUIPMENT: chef knife, cutting board, large mixing bowl, dehydrator (or regular oven)
INGREDIENTS:
2 large heads of broccoli
½ cup of nutritional yeast
¼ cup of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of paprika powder
½ teaspoon of Himalayan crystal salt or sea salt
¼ teaspoon of chili powder
Fresh chili pepper, to taste (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
- Combine nutritional yeast, lemon juice, paprika powder, salt and chili powder in a large mixing bowl. Stir well with a spoon and set aside.
- Cut each head of broccoli into small florets.
- Strip away the outer layer of the broccoli stems and cut them into fine slices. Broccoli stems usually taste very sweet!
- Place the broccoli florets and slices in the mixing bowl. Use two spoons or your hands to cover the broccoli with the chili cheese marinade.
- Place everything on top of a dehydrator tray lined with a Teflex sheet. Dehydrate at 115°F for 2 hours or longer to create a ‘cooked’ taste & texture.
JULIE’S TIPS & TRICKS:
- These Cheesy Chili Broccoli Bites will stay fresh for at least 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Broccoli is very high in nutrients such as vitamin A, E & K, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, potassium… The list is endless! It is also a great source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber. • Want a ‘richer’ result? Replace ½ of the lemon juice with olive oil.
Now I would love to hear from you! What’s your favorite way of preparing broccoli? Let me know by leaving a comment down below.
