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- Steaming the broccoli keeps it crisp-tender and fresh — a great counterpoint to the buttery, savory sauce.
- The quick miso-butter sauce adds depth and subtle heat with just a handful of ingredients.
- With only a 15-minute cook time, this dish makes an easy weeknight side or light vegetarian meal.
This umami-packed vegetable side has all the makings of a weeknight dinner go-to — all you need is a handful of ingredients and 15 minutes. The broccoli is prepared simply, steamed until just tender, but the savory, garlicky, subtly spicy miso butter gives it richness and depth.
What kind of miso should I use?
There are many types of miso, the fermented soybean paste traditional in Japanese cuisine. (There are even types of miso that are entirely soy-free, but for this dish, we recommend going with a soybean-based variety.) The subtlest and least aged variety is shiro (white) miso, which is sweet and delicate. Aka (red) miso, on the other hand, is fermented for much longer, resulting in a darker color and bolder, saltier flavor. Awase (“mixed”) miso is a blend of the two, more well-rounded than shiro but less intense than aka. Here, we recommend using awase or shiro miso, which will add flavor without overpowering the relatively simple dish.
Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen
This broccoli would be great as a side for chicken or salmon, or on its own with steamed white rice as a light vegetarian lunch.
