Moroccan Spice Broccoli

When fighting Candida overgrowth, eating plenty of anti-fungal herbs, spices, and produce is crucial!

If you’re looking for something fun to spice it up in the kitchen, I have just the recipe for you! This Moroccan Spice Broccoli brings an authentic taste of Moroccan cuisine to the dinner table. Made with nutritious cruciferous vegetables, moroccan spice mix, olive oil and lemon, it’s the perfect back-to-school or family meal idea. Did I mention it’s also a cinch to make? You can bring it all together in less than 10 minutes!

What Is a Cruciferous Vegetable?

Vegetables offer a host of health benefits. This is especially true of cruciferous vegetables. What is a cruciferous vegetable, you ask? They are certain vegetables that contain phytonutrients called isothiocyanates. They also contain chemicals called glucosinolates. Examples of cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts. Bok choy, kale, horseradish, watercress, kohlrabi, turnip, and mustard are also cruciferous vegetables. 

Cruciferous Vegetable Benefits

As I mentioned, cruciferous vegetables contain isothiocyanates and glucosinolates. Isothiocyanates are rich in sulfur and nitrogen compounds that support health in a variety of ways. Some of the biggest cruciferous vegetables benefits include their ability to support healthy inflammatory responses. Glucosinolates protect DNA and fight free radical damage . In addition to this, they also have antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. This makes them an excellent ally in fighting Candida or other gut infections.

In this recipe, broccoli is the star of the show. Broccoli is low in calories yet high in flavor! You’re going to love the fusion of flavors between this nutrient-dense vegetable and the spice combination.

Moroccan Spice Mix

Traditional Moroccan Broccoli uses Ras-el-hanout. This is a North African spice mix that blends a wide variety of sweet, pungent, spicy, and bitter herbs. Unfortunately, many of the herbs and spices used, such as allspice may irritate the gut lining for some. This recipe takes all the guesswork out by including only gut -friendly, immune-boosting spices and herbs!

I use fresh garlic cloves to give this Moroccan spice mix a strong, robust flavor base. I also add ground cumin. Coriander powder comes from ground coriander seeds. As an herb, it’s called cilantro. This spice gives the Moroccan spice mix notes of citrus. I also add cumin, made from ground cumin seeds. Cumin adds a warm, earthy flavor to the mix. Cumin also contains properties that promote bile production. It also activates digestive enzymes. This combination is great for healthy digestion. To balance out the savory side, I add Ceylon cinnamon.

These herbs are incredibly beneficial to the body. I chose these specific ones due to their ability to support healthy digestion, balance blood sugar levels, and promote optimal immune function. They also contain terpenes, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids. These compounds can help reduce inflammation in the body. Lowering inflammation can help mitigate your risk for developing leaky gut and other chronic diseases.

How To Make Moroccan Spice Broccoli

Now that you’re familiar with the many spices and cruciferous vegetables benefits, let’s get cooking! Start the Moroccan Spice Broccoli by heating a large pan over medium-high heat. I recommend using stainless steel or cast iron to avoid toxic chemical residues. Once the pan is ready, drizzle in your olive oil.

Add the rinsed broccoli florets to the pan and toss in olive oil. Make sure to coat it well! Cook for about five minutes. After five minutes, check to see if the broccoli begins to soften. If you feel the broccoli getting dry, feel free to add in extra olive oil.

Once the broccoli is soft, it’s time to add the moroccan spice mix. Toss in the garlic cloves, cumin, coriander, and Ceylon cinnamon. Follow this with your salt. Stir everything together. Continue to stir frequently to prevent the garlic and spices from burning. Cook for roughly three more minutes. The spices will be fragrant, and you’ll love how your kitchen smells! By now, the broccoli should be fully cooked but not too soft. 

Remove from the stove top and drizzle with lemon juice. Toss to coat. You can serve it right away, but I recommend letting it rest for at least 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to really mingle!

This Moroccan Spice Broccoli is great to serve with your favorite organic meats. I recommend chicken, steak, or pork. You can also enjoy it on its own.