Tips for chopping broccoli
Here’s one thing that can make or break your roasted broccoli: how you cut the florets! Now of course there’s no wrong way to cut a broccoli floret! But chopping them into very small florets makes them look stubby and a little uninspiring. Here’s how to cut broccoli: Season with garlic and a few spritzes of fresh lemon juice, and the flavor pops in a way you’d never imagine possible with this humble vegetable. We’ve made broccoli all the ways: sauteed broccoli, fried broccoli, steamed broccoli, boiled broccoli, and even roasted frozen broccoli. But roasted broccoli is the method that makes us fall head over heels every time! As two cookbook authors, here are all our secrets.
Preheat: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The very hot temperature will get them perfectly crisp tender! Chop: Chop the florets into medium-sized florets (more on that below). Mix with olive oil and kosher salt. Roast 20 minutes: Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender and browned in parts. Add flavor: Add another drizzle olive oil, grated garlic and fresh lemon juice. Serve warm!
Keep the stems as long as possible! When you chop the floret, cut it at the base of where the floret attaches to the main stem. Doing this makes for an elegant and beautiful shape. See the photo below! Make the florets medium sized, as similar in size as possible. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but keeping the florets similar sized helps them to cook through at the same rate.
Frequently asked questions
More broccoli recipes
We adore broccoli around here! If you do too, here are some of our favorite broccoli recipes:
Add the Parmesan cheese for Parmesan Broccoli Add carrots for Roasted Broccoli and Carrots Add cauliflower for Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
Comeback Sauce This combination of everyone’s favorite condiments takes this veggie up a notch. Lemon Dill Sauce Dip the florets into a cool, creamy herbaceous sauce. Spicy Mayo A little spicy mayo drizzle on this broccoli takes it over the top. Honey Mustard Sauce Dip them into sweet savory honey mustard sauce. Hot Honey Drizzle with a little hot honey, and the sweet savory flavor is insane.
Shrimp: This Sauteed Shrimp or Garlic Shrimp are begging for a little broccoli as a side! Salmon: Add it as a side dish for Pan Seared Salmon or Tuscan Salmon. Chicken: Mix it up as a side for Pan Seared Chicken Breast, Blackened Chicken, Lemon Garlic Chicken or Easy Chicken and Rice. Pasta. Try with our Eggplant Pasta, Linguine Pasta, Baked Rigatoni, Stuffed Shells, or Lasagna Roll Ups. Grain Bowl. Add roasted broccoli to a grain bowl with quinoa or farro, and top with our Tahini Sauce or Cilantro Sauce to make an easy lunch or dinner!
No reviews For a variation with Parmesan cheese, go to Parmesan Broccoli.
Quick Cheesy Broccoli is the best fast and easy side dish! A fan favorite. Creamy Broccoli Potato Soup Intensely creamy, satisfying, and 100% plant based! It’s an easy healthy soup that everyone loves. Broccoli Stir Fry This broccoli stir fry makes this green vegetable taste irresistible! Serve it as a tasty side dish, or add a protein and you’ve got dinner. Broccoli Cheese Wild Rice Casserole A modern spin on wild rice casserole! It’s easy to make and a healthy spin that’s heavy on whole foods. Blanched Broccoli A simple, crowd pleasing way to cook this veggie.
Want more roasted vegetables? Here are the Best Vegetables to Roast.
