The battered broccoli is a typical Roman dish, used mainly in parties as an appetizer, such as at Christmas. It represents one of the classic fries of Roman cuisine.
It’s a very old dish, cooked especially in the big Jews community in Rome, one of the biggest and ancient in the world. For tourist, one of the stops to do in the Capital, is a visit to a restaurant in the Ghetto, the oldest of the world after that of Venice. Here the cuisine is very famous and known, with the fish market. Only in this part of Rome you can find restaurants with very old and unique dish, prepared following the recipe passed by mother, to mother, to mother. The same recipes cooked at home, by the original Romans only.
Print Recipe
BATTERED BROCCOLI
Instructions
First you have to prepare the batter to let it rest for at least an hour. Put the baking soda in a big bowl (1). Pour in the warm water (2) and start to dissolve it with a spoon (3).
Then put the extra virgin olive (4) oil and stir energetically (5). Add a pinch of salt in the bowl (6).
Then separate the yolk to the egg white (7). Put the yolk in a cup to pour it into the bowl (8), while the egg white must be placed in a separate bowl. Mix the yolk with the water and the baking soda (9).
With the electric whisk start to beat the egg white (10) until stiff (11). Then sift the flour in the blow (12).
Start to knead with an electric mixer (13), while, at the same time, you pour the egg white (14). Mix everything (15) to obtain a thick but fluid mixture. Then let the batter rest for at least an hour before using it.
While the batter is resting, wash the broccoli and place it on a cutting board (16). Cut off the stem and cut the tops (17), leaving only a small bowl part (18).
Boil plenty of salted water in a pot and then submerge the broccoli to cook for fifteen minutes (19). Once ready, drain (20) and let them cool. Once cold, dip the tops of the broccoli in the batter (21) so that it adheres well to all the vegetables.
Pour the sunflower oil in a large pan to heat it very well. Take the broccoli and immediately place it in the frying oil (22). Brown the first part (23) and then turn the tops and brown well in all parts (24). Take off from the oil to dry on a plate where you put some kitchen paper. Once drained the oil serve immediately on the table very hot.
