broccoli

broccoli in lemon cream sauce

I haven’t made this in many years but I bought some purple sprouting broccoli and thought that this would be a nice way of doing them.

Ingredients
1 lb (450g) broccoli
1½ oz (40g) butter
2 rounded teaspoons flour
8 fl oz (225 ml) single cream or milk
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
Divide the broccoli into even sized hears and spears. Personally, I trim off the woody and uninteresting bits. Steam them for 5 to 7 minutes and put them into a serving dish whilst you make the sauce. Add as much salt and ground pepper as you like.
Melt the butter in the pan and add the flour. Cook it for a couple of minutes. Add the milk gradually, stirring all of the time as you bring it to the boil. Remove it from the heat.
Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl and add slowly to the sauce, stirring all of the time. In theory, you should use a bain marie for this part, but I just use the pan as it has enough heat on its own (and it saves washing up).
Finally, add the lemon juice, pour over the broccoli and serve.

Hint
It will keep it you make it and put it somewhere warm for half an hour or so. Just don’t overheat it.