Preparing calabrese (broccoli) heads
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:28 pm
As the Calabrese is about ready to harvest now (at least it is here in the south west), I thought I'd share this tip for making sure it doesn't go into the pan with any little friends from the garden still attached. The little green caterpillars (cabbage looper moth and cabbage white butterfly) are a problem as they are well camouflaged, they can get right up underneath the florets, and they can attach themselves with silk. Washing is not always enough to remove them.
This is the method for removing them:
1) Cut up the calabrese head into individual florets (save the sprue for soup if wanted).
2) Wash and drain the florets - this is still necessary to get any dirt or small flies off them.
3) Fill a clean sink with cold water, and add 1/4 cup of salt and 2 tablespoons of any vinegar. Mix well.
4) Add the florets to the water in the sink, dunk them under to make sure they are soaked, and leave them for 20 minutes.
5) At the end of the 20 minutes you will see any caterpillars that were in the heads, now floating in the water.
6) Remove the florets and rinse them under a cold tap.
7) If you are going to freeze the florets, steam them for 3 minutes, dry them well, then bag and freeze.
Someone showed me this a few years ago. I realised after trying it that I'd probably been eating a bit of extra protein with my calabrese for some time. The smaller caterpillars are fiendishly difficult to spot.
This is the method for removing them:
1) Cut up the calabrese head into individual florets (save the sprue for soup if wanted).
2) Wash and drain the florets - this is still necessary to get any dirt or small flies off them.
3) Fill a clean sink with cold water, and add 1/4 cup of salt and 2 tablespoons of any vinegar. Mix well.
4) Add the florets to the water in the sink, dunk them under to make sure they are soaked, and leave them for 20 minutes.
5) At the end of the 20 minutes you will see any caterpillars that were in the heads, now floating in the water.
6) Remove the florets and rinse them under a cold tap.
7) If you are going to freeze the florets, steam them for 3 minutes, dry them well, then bag and freeze.
Someone showed me this a few years ago. I realised after trying it that I'd probably been eating a bit of extra protein with my calabrese for some time. The smaller caterpillars are fiendishly difficult to spot.