This quick Indian-Style broccoli stir fry (dry subzi) is a yummy way to make a chat-patta, lip-smacking broccoli dish. You can make this dish in less than 15 minutes. You can have it as a stand-alone snack or eat it alongside chapathi or rice.
I used the Costco giant pack of frozen broccoli (4 packets in 1) for this dish. The quality of their frozen broccoli (up until now: Oct 2019) has been fantastic – so green and full florets – unlike some dry, chunky ones you get sometimes in other grocery stores (this is not a paid compliment, just my honest opinion). Plus it saves a ton of time, no cleaning, no chopping required – just pure, frozen green vegetable (the perfect health/diet food full of nutrition). Easy and healthy!!
This recipe is a good alternative to always doing the standard Chinese garlic-chili fry or dousing the broccoli with cheese. This is a healthy alternative that both kids and adults will enjoy.
Step by Step Pictures
Take the frozen broccoli out…
Microwave as per instructions
Prepare your spices
Powder your roasted gram/bhuna chana/pottukadali
Coat cooked broccoli pieces with roasted gram powder and salt…
In a pan first fry green chili, garlic, cumin seeds followed by spices in oil
Toss veggies in, pan roast on one side followed by the other until you reach a crisp coating on the broccoli
When caramelized and delicious, serve hot!!
Recipe
This recipe is quick, vegan and tasty/spicy way to make a pan-fried broccoli roast. It can be eaten separately as a finger dish dipped in yogurt or as a dry subzi with chapathi or rice.
- 1 lb Frozen (or fresh) Broccoli
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 3-5 cloves garlic chopped
- 2-3 green chilies (I deseeded them)
- 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
- 2-3 pinch Hing
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili flakes (these are milder than normal)
- 1/2 tsp amchur
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/4 tsp cumin powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 cup Roasted gram (pottukadalai/ bhuna chana)
- 1/2 tsp Salt
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Microwave broccoli for 5 minutes (or follow instructions for hot water blanching). Let it rest for 1 minute.
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Chop garlic, green chilies and prep spices. Powder the roasted gram in a coffee blender for a few seconds – you will get a powder. (Some small coarse pieces are ok, you do not have to grind it fine)
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In a bowl add cooked broccoli, roasted gram powder, salt and toss well. Set aside.
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Set the pan to medium heat, add 2 tbsp of oil. When the oil gets hot, add cumin seeds, garlic, and green chilis and cook it for about 30 seconds.
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Add all the spices and roast well for another 30 seconds. Continuously stir the spices, do not let them burn.
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Add the roasted gram coated broccoli to the pan and mix well with the spices. Set the heat to medium-low, press down the broccoli with the flat edge of the spatula to the pan and let it sit undisturbed for 2 minutes.
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Flip the broccoli pieces over so that the crispy side now faces up. Now let the other side crisp up for 2 minutes.
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When the dish looks beautifully brown and well done, then transfer the dish to a serving container.
Conclusion
Sometimes, light dinners (without carbs) are a great way to stay healthy. One of the times I made this dish, I served dinner with this broccoli dish, boiled peanuts, and a banana smoothie. If the kids find the broccoli pieces too spicy, you can give them a side of yogurt to dip the pieces in.
Alternatively, wrap it in a chapathi for a great lunch, lunch box or dinner idea!!
One of the inspirations for this dish is the showmethecurry base recipe for kale and broccoli. I have made some modifications to make it slightly easier and quicker.
I hope you give this quick broccoli roast (dry subzi) a try. Do post your comments and thoughts below. As always, I look forward to reading them!!
Looking for other veggie dishes? Try:
Post your comments here....I look forward to reading them!!