If your usual boiled broccoli feels like a culinary chore, a professional chef has shared a game-changing technique that promises to revolutionise the humble green vegetable.
The Viral Cooking Tip That Upgrades Broccoli
Chef Stephen Beaddie, who shares his expertise on social media platform TikTok, has demonstrated a simple switch that maximises flavour. In a video from November 2025, viewed over 73,200 times, he urged food lovers to abandon the saucepan in favour of a frying pan for a dramatic taste improvement.
His method focuses on creating a delicious char on the broccoli, which he insists is "where the flavour's at". By cooking the veg over a high heat, it develops a smoky, complex taste that boiling simply cannot achieve.
How to Master the Perfect Pan-Fried Broccoli
The secret to ensuring the broccoli is tender inside while charred outside lies in a clever steam finish. After allowing the broccoli to sear, Chef Beaddie adds a splash of water to the hot pan. This creates steam that gently cooks the vegetable through, resulting in a perfect texture.
His specific recipe for an Asian-inspired tenderstem broccoli dish has garnered significant praise online, with over 1,422 likes and enthusiastic comments. One user, Harly Harl, celebrated the use of sesame oil, while another, Abbie, saw the video as a sign after buying the ingredient that same day.
The Simple Recipe for a Tasty Makeover
For those ready to try the method, here is Chef Stephen Beaddie's straightforward guide to transforming your broccoli.
Ingredients:
- 200g tenderstem broccoli
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated
- 2-3 dashes of soy sauce
- A splash of water
- A pinch of chilli flakes
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
Method:
- Cut any thicker broccoli stems in half lengthways.
- Get a large frying pan very hot, then add the sesame oil and broccoli. Season lightly with salt.
- Let it char nicely on one side without moving it too much.
- Add the garlic and ginger, cooking until fragrant.
- Pour in the soy sauce and a splash of water, allowing it to steam and finish cooking the broccoli.
- Finally, stir through the chilli flakes, sesame seeds, and a dash of white wine vinegar.
The chef concluded his demonstration with a firm endorsement of the results and the vegetable itself: "Delicious, beautiful. You gotta try it. Broccoli rules." With this easy pan-frying hack, home cooks across the UK can now give their greens a seriously tasty upgrade.
