Top 11 Broccoli Substitute in terms of Taste and Nutrition

by Christopher Jones

If you don’t have broccoli available in your local market or you are not interested in using broccoli on your dish, it is time that you look for good broccoli substitutes. You will be surprised to know broccoli has lots of alternatives.

Though broccoli has a higher rank on the nutrition information chart list, a lot of people hate it because of its bitter taste. Besides, these green cruciferous vegetables can be good for your health if you are planning to work on your diet.

From the following article, you will find out all about the top broccoli substitutes, and other information that will benefit you in the long run. Read on to find out more about the veggies.

Top 11 Broccoli Substitute in terms of Taste and Nutrition
Top 11 Broccoli Substitute in terms of Taste and Nutrition

Top 11 Broccoli substitute

Here are all the substitutes of broccoli that you can go through so that you can choose the one that fits your requirement. Check these veggies out.

Cauliflower Cauliflower

Cauliflower Cauliflower
Cauliflower Cauliflower

After you cook the cauliflower, you will get the same texture as broccoli. In the brassica family, this one is much sweeter than broccoli.

If you use the purple one, it is loaded with natural antioxidants. On the other hand, the orange one has a good amount of vitamin A. You can even eat cauliflower with cheese, but it is best that you avoid using too much cheese because the overall food recipe will then have a high amount of fat content.

Besides, you can roast it in the oven or make the famous cauliflower mashed potatoes. Fortunately, it is available all the time in the stores.  

Cabbage

There is red and green cabbage, and if you want to find out which one of the leafy greens are healthier then, the red takes the win. This is because it has more vitamins and fiber than green cabbage.

If you take one cup of the red cabbage, you will get around 85 percent of vitamin c and 2 grams of fiber. Moreover, this vegetable will protect your liver and heart from all kinds of problems. Also, it will lower your blood cholesterol levels.

Since it has a crispy texture, you can use it on your salads or even noodles.

Kale

You can prepare kale in several ways, but the best cooking process for this vegetable will be if it is steamed, pureed, or sautéed. Moreover, you can use it in your salads to bring a unique flavor.

Top 11 Broccoli Substitute in terms of Taste and Nutrition
Top 11 Broccoli Substitute in terms of Taste and Nutrition

It is commonly known as a powerful superfood because it is very beneficial for your health. Some professionals consider it one of the best broccoli alternatives since it contains over 7 vitamins and minerals. 

You will find different kale products in the market, but most of them come with a mixture of other vegetables. So, choose organic kale, and keep your health in check all the time. 

Swiss chard

This vegetable is filled with various nutrients like magnesium, protein, manganese, and fiber. Plus, it even looks appealing than a broccolini or baby broccoli in terms of outlook.

Luckily, you can prepare it in different ways. You can include it in a salad or use it as fried, pureed, pickled, or canned vegetables. If you eat it regularly, you will be able to prevent diabetes mellitus that can damage your body in different ways.

Besides, it is low in caloriesso; you are safe from that, cheers!

Baby Spinach leaves

Yes, eating regular or baby spinach leaves is very helpful for your heart, and even it works effectively in maintaining your blood pressure properly. Furthermore, the baby spinach leaves contain antioxidants that reduce the chance of cancer and it also has higher amounts of beta-carotene and lutein. 

You can add spinach to your salads, soups, casseroles, stir-fries, and even pies. In total, spinach has multiple health benefits, and you can easily experiment with other mouthwatering dishes.

Asparagus

Asparagus
Asparagus

You can eat this broccoli substitute with other dishes like pasta, soups, quiches, etc. There are people who claim that asparagus doesn’t taste good, but the best thing is that asparagus is also considered a healthy vegetable as broccoli or broccolini. 

It consists of more than 6 vitamins and minerals, which boosts and improves your livers’ metabolic function.

Collard greens

Unlike other broccoli alternatives, collard greens store most of its nutrients after it is cooked. Like broccoli, it contains calcium and is also high in antioxidants.

It is highly popular in southern American dishes, and the surprising fact is that you won’t have a tough time understanding the recipe. You can use it in your stews, salads, or even use it with pork or bacon.

Brussels sprouts

If you are searching for a broccoli alternative that can help you to detoxify, Brussels sprouts can be a suitable option. It comes in various ways like pickled, frozen, fresh, or canned.

Plus, it prevents free radical damage and decreases the chance of colorectal cancer. Moreover, it contains a high amount of vitamins and minerals that are highly beneficial for your well-being.

It is considered a good broccoli alternative because you can prepare it in any way you want without any hesitation. If you want a hassle-free replacement of broccoli, this one can be a great option for you.  

Bok choy

If you don’t like regular cabbage, you can use bok choy without any problem. It is also known as Chinese cabbage and is also a good broccoli substitute.

Bok choy
Bok choy

You can add it to your beloved salad and serve it to your friends and family members. It tastes very good with soy sauce that has low sodium. 

In terms of nutrition, it has high amounts of vitamin c. 

Turnip greens

Turnip greens are a very good vegetable because it is strong enough to fight against various diseases.

If you consume it, you will be able to protect your body from arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, bladder cancer, colon cancer, autoimmune disease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. 

Plus, it prevents radical damage, reduces oxidation stress, helps slow aging, protects the eye’s condition, and maintains proper bone strength.

It is stronger than radish or cabbage and tastes sharp and spicy. Don’t worry; the smell and taste will be great if you cook it using salt and eat it with other dishes. Besides, the harshness of a baby turnip green is low, and it can be eaten raw without any hassle.

Green beans

Though green beans are not highly nutritious as you will get in broccoli, you can still use them as an alternative. If you are thinking about using it as a replacement for broccoli, you should definitely avoid it at all costs.

How to choose the proper substitute?

Choosing the proper alternative is not a challenging task if you know all the key aspects in advance. You should definitely invest your time in this type of situation because you will serve the food to your kids and other family members. If you invite guests, you have to take this matter very seriously as well.

Broccoli alternatives: Choosing process in terms of taste

Fortunately, not all the broccoli substitutes taste bitter though they come from the same family as this vegetable.

If you don’t have broccoli and prefer to maintain the same flavor as broccoli for a normal meal or side dish, then you should go for collard greens, Brussels sprouts, or Swiss chard.

Broccoli substitutes: Choosing process in terms of nutrition

In terms of nutrition, you should choose kale, cabbage, or turnip greens instead of broccoli. These won’t taste identical to Chinese broccoli, but their health benefits won’t disappoint you. 

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions related to broccoli. Go through them.

1. What vegetable is comparable to broccoli?

There are lots of vegetables that are comparable and are a good substitute for broccoli. You can use any of them as a substitute for broccoli or Chinese broccoli and do some innovative cooking with the help of various recipes.
The vegetables are kale, cauliflower, Swiss chard, cabbage, asparagus, spinach, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, green beans, turnip greens, and bok choy.  

2. Can you substitute broccoli for broccoli?

Yes, you can substitute broccoli for broccoli. If you find that other alternatives don’t suit your taste bud like broccoli, you can choose this approach without any doubt. Besides, you will get your desired taste of calabrese or broccoli, and the nutritional value you will get from the broccoli will be huge.  

3. Can you substitute cauliflower for broccoli?

Yes, you can because cauliflower is considered a very good substitute for broccoli. It has the same texture as broccoli, and surprisingly, it tastes sweet if you follow proper recipes during cooking.
So, if you are not interested in having a bitter taste in your dish, this fantastic alternative can be a blessing in disguise. Besides, you will always find it available in your nearby stores like broccoli is easily attainable.

4. How can I substitute vegetables?

If you don’t like green leafy vegetables, you can opt for orange or dark-yellow vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, or squash. These are loaded with folic acid and vitamin A. Plus, if you are not interested in cooked vegetables, you can try raw vegetables or use them in your salad.

Conclusion

These are all about the best broccoli substitutes. Read the article a couple of times so that you can understand everything about the broccoflower and find out which alternative is good for your diet.

Share the article with your loved ones, and allow them to work on their diet as well.

Get a good grip on all the recipes before you dive into cooking. Have a good day.

About Christopher Jones

Chris is a true globetrotter. He has been to many destinations and tried different types of food from all over the world, yet he still loves finding new places and tasting their specialties. Chris has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and so he decided to go back to school at age 24 for his MBA at University of San Francisco so that he could have a better understanding of business strategy in order to start his own company. His favorite motto is “how can one live well, travel well, and work well without having good food every time?”


Be with Chris:

Leave a Reply

Check for FREE Gifts. Or get our Free Cookbooks right now.

Disable the Ad Block to reveal all the recipes. Once done that, click on any button below