My love for cooking originated in my mother’s kitchen: I spent hours watching her cook for us, and from her, I learned the importance of homemade food, weekly planning, and having a well-stocked fridge.
Do you think a healthy diet is important?
It’s the most important thing! There are things that affect health but are beyond our direct control, like air pollution or sea pollution. However, we can control what we eat, and that has a direct effect on our well-being.
Perhaps the problem is that the harmful effects of a poor diet can take years to become visible, especially when we are young, and there’s a widespread belief that “I have eaten X all my life, and nothing has happened to me.” Well, let’s define “nothing”…
Perhaps the problem is that the harmful effects of a poor diet can take years to become visible.
You have a son, Kai, to what extent do you consider nutritional education important?
Eating is something essential that we do several times a day, and as parents, it’s our duty to teach our children to have a healthy diet so that when they become adults, it’s something natural and not a hardship.
Kai loves broccoli and happily eats it because it’s a regular part of his diet. He’s also used to seeing us eat broccoli. Setting an example is crucial.
Is it easy to eat healthily in an environment so favorable to unhealthy food?
For us, as adults who know how to choose, it’s easy, even if we occasionally eat out. For my son, for now, it’s also easy because he is still small and lives in our bubble of healthy food. But I know that as he grows, there will be situations where what he eats may not be ideal. I hope to have laid a good foundation by then to help him know what’s best for him and that despite occasionally indulging in something questionable, he always returns to a healthy diet.
What should never be missing from your pantry and fridge?
Never missing are eggs, vegetables, meat, fish, and olive oil.
Does broccoli play a part in your cooking?
Always! Especially in autumn and winter, which is its season, of course. This year, I even dared to plant broccoli in my garden, but it hasn’t been cold enough, and it bolted.
How do you prefer to cook broccoli at home?
The way we mostly eat it is sliced and sautéed in olive oil or ghee with a pinch of salt. I also like to sprout broccoli at home to add to the salad.
Finally, what recipe would you give us to prepare broccoli?
Broccoli couscous is so delicious that even those who aren’t big fans of broccoli enjoy it. Plus, it’s perfect for using the stalk.
To make it, you need a whole broccoli, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and spices. Wash the broccoli under the tap and cut it into large pieces. Put them in a food processor or blender and process for a few seconds, just enough to make it the size of rice or couscous grains. Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan and add the broccoli. Sauté for 5 minutes over medium/high heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking. Finally, add the salt and the desired spices, and it’s ready.
You can find a lot of delicious recipes on Laura García’s Instagram profile and on her blog.