Charred Broccoli with Breadcrumbs & Pecorino
This is one of my go-to vegetable side dishes! It's quick, simple, and great for weeknight dinners, holidays, or dinner parties. The charred broccoli is seasoned with lemon, garlic, pepper flakes, Pecorino, and buttery breadcrumbs for a side dish that's full of flavor!
Ingredients
Buttery Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 Tbs unsalted butter
- 2 Tbs plain breadcrumbs (preferably Panko)
- Kosher salt, to taste
Charred Broccoli
- 1 1/2 lbs broccoli crowns, chopped into bite-sized florets
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes + more to taste*
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest (about 1 small lemon)
- 1/4 c Pecorino, freshly-grated**
- Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
Equipment
- 2 sheet pans (preferably seasoned)
Instructions
Buttery Breadcrumbs
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until they are golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.
- Season the breadcrumbs with a pinch of salt. Spoon the breadcrumbs into a small bowl to stop the cooking. Set aside.
Charred Broccoli
- Place two sheet pans in the oven, and set the oven to 425°F.***
- Place the broccoli in a large bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil followed by the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Next, carefully grease the hot sheet pans. Then, spoon the broccoli florets evenly between the pans and spread the florets out so they are not overcrowded. Do your best to place the broccoli florets cut-side down onto the pan to get the most amount of char and caramelization! Bake for 15 minutes.
- Stir the broccoli and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until the florets are tender, browned, and charred on the edges.**** Sprinkle the Pecorino over the broccoli and bake another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the broccoli from the oven. Stir well to distribute the cheese and then spoon the broccoli into a serving dish. Finish by sprinkling the breadcrumbs over the broccoli. Enjoy!
Notes
*A note on red pepper flakes - if you're sensitive to spice, start with a pinch and add more to taste.
**A note on Pecorino - if you can't find Pecorino, use Parmesan instead.
***A note on the sheet pans - placing them in the oven is the secret to perfectly charred, caramelized broccoli. Don't skip this step!
****A note on char - I like a lot of crispiness to my broccoli so I usually bake for a few extra minutes. If you want less char, cook closer to 2o minutes or cut the broccoli florets larger.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 164kcal, Carbohydrates: 14.6g, Protein: 7.2g, Fat: 10.4g, Saturated Fat: 2.8g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 143mg, Potassium: 557mg, Fiber: 4.7g, Sugar: 3.2g, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 1mg
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