Best Lemony Braised Broccoli Recipes

LEMON GARLIC BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Heat a medium sauté pan or wok over medium heat.
• Rinse the broccolini under cold water and add to the heated pan or wok (you want to hear a nice sizzle). Put the lid on and allow to cook and steam for a couple of minutes, tossing once or twice so it doesn't burn.
• Take off the lid and drizzle over 1 tablespoon olive oil, place the lid back on and cook the broccolini for a couple of minutes, shaking the pan from time to time to make sure it doesn't burn, until it is bright green and crisp-tender.
• Stir the crushed garlic, lemon zest and a pinch of sea salt into the broccolini, then cover and cook for a further minute.
• Remove the lid, stir in the lemon juice and transfer to a serving plate.

ROASTED GARLIC LEMON BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, toss broccoli florets with the extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, pepper and garlic. Spread the broccoli out in an even layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until florets are tender enough to pierce the stems with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and transfer to a serving platter. Squeeze lemon juice liberally over the broccoli before serving for a refreshing, tangy finish.

EASY LEMON AND GARLIC BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Place broccoli florets in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir 2 teaspoons lemon juice into water in a small bowl and pour the mixture into the skillet. Cover and steam until broccoli is bright green and tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While broccoli is steaming, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in garlic and salt; turn heat to low and let the garlic gently fry until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Drain water from cooked broccoli and return to skillet; sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons lemon juice and the butter and garlic mixture. Sprinkle broccoli with black pepper, toss to combine, and season with a bit more pepper if desired.

SPICY ROASTED BROCCOLINI WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• For the preserved lemon: Mix the salt with 1 cup sugar in a small bowl. Layer the lemon slices with the salt-sugar mixture in a nonreactive dish so that the lemon slices are completely buried. Leave the dish uncovered on the kitchen counter and let sit for 2 to 3 days.
• Remove the lemon slices from the salt-sugar mixture and rinse well under cold water. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, then add the lemon slices and simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool and store in a container with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• For the broccolini: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Blanch the broccolini by filling a medium saucepan with water and bringing it to a boil. Add a generous handful of salt (it should taste like the sea). Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the broccolini to the boiling water and cook until just barely tender, about 2 minutes. Drain the broccolini and immediately plunge into the ice water to shock. Transfer the broccolini to paper towels and blot dry.
• Add the blanched broccolini, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil and some salt and pepper to a cast-iron skillet and toss well. Place the skillet in the oven and roast until the broccolini stalks are soft and cooked through and the ends are brown and crispy, approximately 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the chile paste, 2 tablespoons chopped preserved lemon and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Toss the roasted broccolini with the preserved lemon mixture and serve.