A high-heat char brings out the natural sweetness of roasted broccolini. Lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic and red onion add acidity and spice to this easy side dish. Finished with freshly grated parmesan cheese, this Charred Broccolini is amazing from tender florets to the crisp, sweet stems.
This delicious side dish is easy to make and in regular rotation at my house. The prep takes just a few minutes and the rest of the work is done in the oven.
Serve this up alongside your weeknight meal or impress your guests by offering this along side a gourmet dinner.
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Ingredients
- Broccolini
- Red Onion
- Lemon Zest
- Lemons Juice
- Garlic Cloves
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Charred Broccolini
Preheat the oven to 400° F for a conventional oven or 375° F for convection oven with the fan on high.
Clean and trim broccolini and place on a sheet pan in a single layer. Thinly slice red onion and spread the slices over the broccolini.
- Step 1: In a small bowl, mix extra virgin olive oil, the juice of one lemon and its zest, grated garlic, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Step 2: Next, drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice mixture over the broccolini and sliced onions and give it a good toss.
- Then, roast the broccolini in the oven for 20-25 minutes, turning at half way for an even char.
Finish with freshly grated parmesan to add nutty, salty flavor and serve alongside any of your favorite mains.
Variations
This method and bold flavors of the marinade can be used with a wide array of slightly bitter vegetables. Try asparagus, green beans, brussels sprouts, or broccoli rabe for a nice treat as well.
Diana's Tips for Success
Top Tip
Occasionally, I find pieces of broccolini with thicker stems. To ensure even cooking, slice the thicker stalks in half long ways to make two thinner pieces.
FAQs
Broccolini is a hybrid vegetable derived from standard broccoli and gai lan or Chinese kale (Chinese Broccoli). The resulting vegetable has smaller florets and thinner, more tender stems than traditional broccoli. It is sometimes sold in grocery stores under the names baby broccoli or Tenderstem broccoli.
Roasting vegetables to a char caramelizes the natural sugars in vegetables. It lessens the bitterness and intensifies the inherent sweetness.
Broccolini should be rinsed under cool water. Peel away any limp leaves. Remove ¼-1/2" of the stem.
If broccolini has been in the refrigerator for a few days and feels a bit limp, remove ½" of the stems and place in a bowl of ice water for 15 minutes to perk it up.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Italian Stuffed Artichokes with Lemon and Mint
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Raisins
- Grilled Sesame Bok Choy
- Roasted Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Wilted Spinach Salad With Bacon
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
- Roasted Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Easy Chimichurri Flank Steak
- Cast Iron Pork Chops with Cherry Balsamic Glaze
- Chicken Breast in a Cast Iron Skillet
- Lamb Lollipops
- Oven Roasted Tri Tip
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📖 Recipe
Charred Broccolini with Lemon, Garlic, & Parmesan
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Broccolini stems trimmed
- ¼ Cup Red Onion thinly sliced
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced or grated
- 1 Lemon juice and zest
- ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F for a conventional oven or 375° F for a convection oven with the fan on high.
- In a small bowl, mix extra virgin olive oil, the juice of one lemon and its zest, grated garlic, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Clean and trim broccolini and place on a sheet pan in a single layer. Thinly slice red onion and spread the slices over the broccolini.
- Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice mixture over the broccolini and sliced onions and give it a good toss.
- Roast the broccolini in the oven for 20-25 minutes, turning at half way for an even char.
- Finish with freshly grated parmesan to add nutty, salty flavor and serve alongside any of your favorite mains.
Notes
Nutrition
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Diana Reis says
Try this delicious side dish with your favorite Delicious by Design Mains.