Charred Broccoli

This easy, tried and true Charred Broccoli recipe brings the healthy veggie to next level deliciousness. Broccoli has never been so good! Vegetarian and vegan, this green side dish will seriously elevate any meal!

Charring broccoli is a way of bringing the natural sugars to its surface-- AKA caramelization. And the amount of delicious flavor caramelization adds is unbelievable.

The cooking process is easy and quick -- the broccoli is simply roasted at a very high temperature to brown (or char) it, which heightens the flavor and makes it incredibly tasty -- almost impossible to stop eating.

This recipe is very similar to my Smashed Cauliflower side dish recipe, the only difference is that it's not "smashed." (Feel free, though!)

The only ingredients you need for Charred Broccoli are broccoli, olive oil, salt and pepper. The only other things you'll need are 30 minutes and an oven.

Choosing Broccoli

As with most produce, try to get it at your local Farmers' Market when possible. Choose broccoli that's with firm stems and tightly closed dark green buds. (Bunches that are yellow no longer fresh.)

You can use bagged broccoli florets, though it's not really a time saver in this case. You will still have to cut the pieces in half, because to char them, we want one flat surface. (See below instructions for details.) If you do buy bagged broccoli, be sure it's a bag you can see through, to be sure it looks fresh.

How to Make Charred Broccoli

- Preheat the oven to 450°F.

- Wash, dry and cut the broccoli into small pieces -- a bit larger than bite-sized, including the tender portions of the stems. The broccoli florets should be sliced in half length-wise, so one side is flat. The flat side has more surface area to come in contact with the pan, which is greatly helpful in the charring process.

- Drizzle about half of the olive oil an a sheet pan and then spread the broccoli out in a single layer on top. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle with generously salt and several turns of black pepper. Use your hands to toss the broccoli so it’s evenly coated.

Recipe Tip: I find the caramelization is the most successful on a bare sheet pan -- no foil or parchment.

Recipe Tip: Be sure the broccoli is in one layer on the sheet pan. If it doesn’t all fit this way, use a second one, or do it in two batches. Otherwise, not all of it will brown.

- Place in the preheated oven and roast until some of the broccoli is brown and crispy, about 15 minutes.

Recipe Tip: Do not use a broiler for this recipe -- the broccoli will get too dark too fast.

- Use a spatula or kitchen tongs to flip the broccoli over for another 15 minutes, or until all of it looks nicely browned. Some tiny areas will be black or almost black, this is okay.

Variations

Really, this broccoli side dish is amazing on its own, but it's also fabulous changed up a bit. Below are a handful of delicious ideas.

• Sprinkle shaved Parmesan or Gruyère on top for the last few minutes of the roasting time.
• Toss it with crumbled Feta just before serving.
• Toss the florets with toasted pine nuts or hazelnuts.
• Drizzle it with lemon juice. (Lemon juice would also be delicious with one of the cheeses and the nuts.
• Turn it into a meal. You can mix it into rice or pasta. It would be great added to Roasted Garlic Basil Rice, with chicken, salmon or tofu.
• It's excellent with Romesco sauce and Roasted Chickpeas.
• Spicy version. After it comes out of the oven, toss the charred broccoli with a couple of teaspoons of chili paste and a drizzle of honey.

Making it Ahead

Like most charred vegetables, the broccoli is at its best right out of the oven. This doesn't mean leftovers aren't delicious, because of course they are. 😉 The crispy bits might just not be as crispy the next day.

What to Serve with Charred Broccoli

Below are a few scrumptious main courses that would be perfect with this dish.

• Red Quinoa Burgers
• Salmon Burgers with Fresh Salmon
• Cast Iron Skillet Chicken with Cognac Sauce
• Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Lemon Caper Sauce

More Delicious Green Side Dishes

There are so many different ways you can prepare broccoli -- I hope you give this way a go to see what all the hype is all about.