Broccoli brings a welcome bit of green crunch to UAE kitchens that lean toward lighter, quicker meals, its tightly packed florets holding a slightly earthy, mildly sweet flavour that turns nuttier the moment it hits a hot pan or a steamer basket. The trick to cooking it well is not overdoing it: a few minutes of steaming or a fast stir-fry keeps the florets bright green and just tender, while overcooking turns them dull and soft with a stronger sulphurous edge that puts a lot of people off the vegetable entirely. Beyond the classic steamed side dish, broccoli works well roasted with a little oil until the edges char slightly, tossed into pasta, or blitzed into a soup with the stalks included, since the stalk is just as edible as the florets once peeled of its tougher outer layer.

When choosing a head, look for tight, compact florets in a deep green colour with no yellowing, which is the first sign broccoli is past its best. Store it unwashed in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer, ideally in a loosely closed bag that lets it breathe, and use it within a few days for the best texture.

QuicKart delivers broccoli fresh with free delivery across the UAE, so a healthy stir-fry is never far off.