Purple Sprouting Broccoli

I first tried this when it turned up in my delivery box from Auntie Em's. I loved it so I bought more when I saw it at the FM this week. Uncooked, it has a much stronger smell than regular broccoli and a pretty purplish color. I'm not a fan of steaming broccoli; you get uneven results (the pieces on the steamer basket get overcooked while the ones on top are raw). Parboiling gives you good color and even cooking. Contrary to popular lore, you are not going to boil out all the nutrients unless you boil your veggies until they're a soggy mess. I boil a big pot of water and put the broccoli in for two or three minutes (until it's bright green), then drain it well. After that I heat up a pan with some olive oil and stir-fry it for a couple of minutes. All it needs is a bit of crushed red pepper and some salt. Last night I added some crumbled bacon. Pancetta also works nicely with broccoli. You can leave the meat out, of course.