Why You Will Love This Recipe
If you love broccoli, you’re going to fall head over heels for this easy sautéed broccolini. Arguably more delicious than broccoli, this relatively newfangled vegetable (it was only introduced in the 90s!) requires less prep and less cooking time than its heftier cousin. This simple garlic broccolette recipe is naturally gluten free, easy to make vegan (just use vegan butter!) and is an excellent side dish for all sorts of occasions. Perfect for serving on a weeknight, this tasty dish is also a stellar side for celebrations like Thanksgiving (which should also feature Peach Cobbler, Apple Pie, Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Salad and Roasted Parsnips). With fewer than 10 ingredients, this easy side requires just 15 minutes of your time. Garlic Lemon Broccolini for the win! Now let’s get cooking.
Ingredients
Aside from the broccolini itself, every ingredient required for this healthy side dish is quite easy to obtain. Here’s everything you’ll need:
Broccolini - While I simply adore the vegetable that is broccolini, you do have some options when it comes to substitutions. This dish will also taste delicious if you use broccoli, asparagus or Chinese broccoli.Butter - I use unsalted butter here. If you are using salted butter, be sure to watch your seasonings. To make a vegan version of this dish, simply swap in your favorite plant based butter.Garlic - Use fresh garlic here, as there is simply no substitute for crispy garlic chips.Olive Oil - No need to bust out the good, cold-pressed stuff here. Use any basic extra virgin olive oil and get stellar results.Lemon - When it comes to citrus juice, fresh squeezed is always best. To get the most juice from your lemons, give them a firm roll on the countertop for about 10-15 seconds before slicing in half.Pine Nuts - Also known as pignolias, these seeds are delicately flavored and deliciously nutty. They can also be a bit pricey, so feel free to swap in cashews, hazelnuts or macadamia nuts instead.Salt & Pepper - Seasoning is everything, people. Don’t skimp out on either fresh cracked pepper or a nice sprinkling of sea salt.
How to Cook Broccolini
Infuse Garlic Butter
Melt butter on medium heat in a heavy bottom pan or skillet. Add sliced garlic and cook on medium heat until golden brown and crisp. Transfer most of the brown garlic to a plate. You can leave a few slices in the pan.
Sauté
Add olive oil to the pan with the garlic butter and heat for few seconds. Add broccolini and toss for 2 minutes using tongs.
Steam
Now, reduce the heat to medium low and add 2-3 tablespoons of water and cover the pan with lid. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until broccolini is bright green and just cooked yet crunchy.
Season and Serve
Season with salt and pepper, add lemon juice and toss. Sprinkle fried garlic and toasted pine nuts. Drizzle some more freshly squeezed lemon (if needed), then serve warm. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Making this lemon and garlic sautéed broccolini recipe is super easy. In fact, after you make it just once, I bet you won’t even need to read the recipe! That said, I have a few tips to ensure that this delectable side turns out beautifully:
Variations
This garlic and lemon broccolini is simple and delicious, but there are plenty of ways for you to customize this recipe. Here are some ideas:
Try a different vegetable! Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are all part of the same family as broccolini. You can also give carrots, spinach, bell peppers or green beans the same treatment.Garlic and lemon play very nicely with anchovies, so if you’d like a little punch of umami, try adding 2-3 fillets to this recipe! Just be sure to cut back on the salt that is called for in the recipe. Alternatively, you can sprinkle with a fresh grating of parmesan.Add some more Asian-style flavors with the addition of fresh ginger, a splash of soy sauce or fish sauce in place of the salt, and lime instead of lemon. YUM!
If you find a new way of preparing broccolini, let me know in the comments below!
Serving Ideas
This recipe for pan seared broccolini with garlic and lemon butter is a natural accompaniment to just about any dinner table.
Serve it alongside chicken, fish or steak. It pairs nicely with just about any kind of grilled or roasted meat, so consider it for the 4th of July or Thanksgiving menu.Sprinkle it with some grated parmesan and eat it as a veggie main with rice, quinoa or potatoes.Chop it up and toss with pasta.Use up leftovers by adding them to minestrone (or other veggie forward soups).
There is no wrong way to serve this delicious vegetable side, but if you come up with a way that everyone SHOULD serve it, let me know in the comments below!
More Yummy Recipes
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