If you can puree cauliflower to make a fabulous pasta sauce, then broccoli should work too – right?
That’s exactly what I asked myself as I stood in the kitchen debating if I should do this very thing – would the kids like it? They would for sure know it was broccoli. How could I pull it off and make it taste so delicious that they would want more and more?
And would the Mr. like it? Or would he politely eat and never ask for it again?
So I embarked on this mission, which took merely minutes, to see what I could do. I used my Instant Pot to steam my broccoli for zero (yes, zero) minutes. After it was perfectly steamed, I put it in the blender with salt, some nutritional yeast, and some cream I pulled off the top of our raw milk from the fridge.
You know, the cream that’s full of heart healthy, saturated fat that your body needs.
I pureed until it was a beautiful sauce, and along the way, added a little black pepper, a little more salt, and some fresh garlic. Now the true test.. would the kids enjoy this? Or would they turn up their nose? I boiled and drained a little pasta, and stirred in the green sauce, sprinkled with a little extra salt and threw it on the table.
“Who wants green pasta sauce on their pasta today? Green like a MONSTER!”
“No way! You made GREEN sauce?” –> they are intrigued!
They come closer, they sniff, they dabble their finger in the sauce, and put to their lips, then I hear it… “what is this? Can I have some too? How come you only made one plate? Make me a plate too!”
I’m convinced that sometimes kids make their food choices based on color – colors are exciting to them and when colors are exciting, then they get excited too. Case in point with pureed carrot mac and cheese – they loved it, and had no idea I had tucked a ton of carrots in there in lieu of cheese. Oh the things we do to get them to eat!
The sauce has become a favorite for my oldest – we just picked up another head of broccoli from the farmers market and she asked me to make this sauce again for her because she loved it so much.
A creamy broccoli sauce that is delicious poured or mixed in to pasta, or veggie noodles!
Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli, stem removed and cut into quarters
- 1/2 C. water
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/2 C. milk* or non-dairy milk (coconut milk would be great)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt or more to taste
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast or parmesan*
Instructions
- In your Instant Pot, pour 1/2 C. water. Set the trivet and the steamer rack within, and place the quartered broccoli on the steamer rack. Close the valve, and cook on steam for zero minutes. Remove immediately and place in your blender.
- To the blender, add the garlic, non-dairy milk, pepper, salt and nutritional yeast. Blend until completely smooth.
- Serve over the pasta of your choice.
- Refrigerate sauce in a jar for up to 4 days and reheat to stir in pasta as needed.
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