Inventive flavorings take boredom out of broccoli

CHICAGO — Old Papa Bush got plenty of heat for dissing broccoli while in the White House, but you can’t blame him, really.

There are a lot of bad broccoli dishes out there. The trouble often lies in the presentation: naked, save for a pat or two of butter, salt and pepper. Boring!

Broccoli can taste good, be fun, even, if you play around with it a bit.

Here are some easy ideas to whip broccoli into something special enough not only for a former president but for your family, too. All these tips begin with a batch of cooked broccoli.

Make soup. Puree the cooked broccoli in a blender or food processor with just enough hot chicken or vegetable broth to give it a creamy, souplike consistency. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice; add cream if you want it, salt and pepper. Serve hot as is, or push through a sieve for a smoother consistency. You can also serve this soup cold; if so, add more salt, pepper and lemon juice because flavors tend to dull when chilled.

Spice it up. Mince two or three cloves of garlic; saute in olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add half a teaspoon of hot chili flakes and, if you like, some chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Add cooked broccoli to the pan; toss lightly until all the spears are heated through and coated with the garlicky oil.

Go east. Season cooked broccoli while hot with a few dashes of teriyaki sauce and some toasted sesame oil. Garnish with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.