Recipe: Garlic Roasted Broccoli with Pine Nuts (2024)

FAQs

How do you stop broccoli from burning when roasting? ›

The tender, fuzzy “tree” tips of roasted broccoli florets are the most delicious, but they are also quick to burn. Make sure the florets are well-coated with olive oil to keep this from happening. Don't Crowd the Pan. If the florets are too close, they will steam instead of roast.

Wash AND dry your veggies.

After you wash your head of broccoli, make sure to dry it off before you toss it with the oil. A little moisture is ok, but if it's too wet when it goes in the oven, it won't get brown and crisp.

Make sure to salt the water you steam it in and make sure you bring the water to a boil before you put the broccoli in. Use a steamer basket to keep the broccoli out of the water. The most important thing to know about steaming broccoli is that cooking the broccoli any more than seven minutes tops risks overcooking it.

SALT! And/or pepper or other dry seasonings. A little lemon or lime juice can also simmer down some of the bitter flavors and make the dish much more interesting and flavorful. Technically adds a tiny bit to the calorie count, but not enough to actually matter in a real sense.

Some broccoli varieties are more bitter than others and bolt quicker, choose heat tolerant varieties or quick maturing varieties. Even if the head is small, pick your broccoli when the florets are tight, close together and bright green.

Yes! Baked broccoli is super healthy and full of fiber, vitamin C, and even protein.

Nope, not those commercial produce washes; the USDA actually advises against using those. Instead, use a pantry staple: vinegar. Fill a large bowl with 2 ⅔ cups cold or warm water and ⅓ cup white vinegar. Allow it to soak for 2 minutes, then dump the broccoli into a colander.

The natural nooks and crevices in broccoli and cauliflower are the perfect hiding spot for dirt, germs and even little bugs. Get your cruciferous veggies squeaky clean by filling a sink with cold water and then soaking them for a few minutes.

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.

Why is my broccoli soggy in the oven? ›

How Do You Keep it From Turning Out Wet? Frozen broccoli can have a lot of ice on the outside, so it's really important that the broccoli florets are spaced out very well on the baking sheet. If they're crowded, the ice will not be able to evaporate well and your broccoli will turn out wet and mushy.

Heat oil in a large skillet with a fitted lid over medium-high. Once oil is shimmering, add broccoli and cook, uncovered, 1 minute. Cover and continue cooking, lifting lid to stir every 1 to 2 minutes to prevent burning, until crisp-tender and lightly charred, about 7 to 8 minutes total.

It's definitely hard to find a spice or herb that doesn't work with broccoli or broccolini. Any combination of garlic, salt, pepper and any classic herbs, (basil, rosemary, sage, parsley, tarragon, thyme, etc.,) is a surefire way to treat these veggies right.

How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? As with everything made by chefs, they have unexpected (read: unhealthy) additions to their meals — mostly butter, oil and heaps of salt. An excellent tip for the perfect broccoli is the blanching step.

Garlic and butter help make broccoli taste irresistible. Simply sautee the broccoli in a pan with just a little butter, some onions and grated garlic and voila! Add a drizzle of lemon if desired.

The sweet spot is between 400°F and 425°F. Go any higher, and the outside of your veggies will start to burn before the inside has a chance to cook through. Any lower? They'll still cook through (eventually), but the oven won't be hot enough to get your veggies golden, crispy, and caramelized.

Swich tip: the smaller the vegetable pieces, the higher the oven temperature needs to be. This may sound counter-intuitive. But here's why: smaller vegetables take less time to cook throughout. On the other hand, harder and bigger vegetables are better cooked at 350-400 to prevent the vegetables from burning.

However, if cooked for too long, the water can evaporate and the broccoli can become dry enough to catch fire. Leaving the stem on - The thick stem of broccoli has less moisture than the florets. If left on while microwaving, the stem can heat up more quickly and reach a temperature where combustion occurs.

**Use the Right Temperature:** The ideal roasting temperature for most vegetables is between 375°F to 425°F (190°C to 220°C). Higher temperatures can cause burning on the outside before the inside is cooked.