Chef and food blogger Erren Hart from Erren's Kitchen has shared a recipe for what she calls "the best broccoli of your life," swapping boiling for roasting in the oven with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese.
The recipe requires 10 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking time, and the ingredients listed are sufficient for six people, though quantities can be adjusted to suit the number being served.
Ingredients and Method
To make the dish, you will need two large heads of broccoli (1.8 kilograms), four garlic cloves, six and a half tablespoons of olive oil, one and a half teaspoons of salt, half a teaspoon of ground black pepper, two teaspoons of lemon zest, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and one-third of a cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Start by heating the oven to 200°C. Wash and chop the broccoli into small florets, leaving a little of the stalk intact, and halve any larger pieces to ensure even cooking. Place the broccoli on a large baking tray in a single layer.
Peel and slice the garlic, scatter it over the tray, then drizzle with five tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the broccoli is tender and the edges are golden brown.
Serving Suggestions and Reviews
Once out of the oven, toss the broccoli immediately with the remaining olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and freshly grated Parmesan. Serve immediately. The dish complements chicken, salmon, steak, tofu, and chickpeas particularly well, and can also be enjoyed on its own or with pasta or rice.
Reviewers on the site left positive comments, with one person saying, "Delicious beats boiled brockers!" Another added, "Love the flavour!" A further reviewer noted that "Parmesan cheese is absolutely loaded with salt, so you certainly don't need to add any extra! Especially if you are on a sodium-reduced eating plan."
The chef responded: "That's a great point! Parmesan does add quite a bit of salty flavour, which is why I typically recommend seasoning to taste. If you're watching your sodium intake, you can certainly reduce or even skip the added salt and let the Parmesan do the work. Thanks for sharing your tip!"
