Chef and food blogger Erren Hart from Erren's Kitchen has revealed her formula for "the best broccoli of your life." She abandons the conventional boiling technique in favour of oven-roasting, enhanced with three key ingredients that deliver a proper flavour punch.
The Recipe
Erren explained: "Roasted fresh broccoli with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese, this side dish recipe is sure to be the best broccoli of your life!"
This dish requires 10 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes in the oven. The measurements below cater for six portions, though you're welcome to adjust the quantities depending on how many you're feeding.
Ingredients and Method
You'll 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 your oven to 200°C while you prep the ingredients. Rinse and chop the broccoli into bite-sized florets, leaving a bit of stem on each piece. Halve any larger florets to ensure they roast evenly.
Spread the broccoli across a large baking tray in one layer. Peel and thinly slice the garlic before scattering it over the top, then pour over five tablespoons of olive oil and season generously with salt and freshly milled black pepper.
Cooking and Serving
Pop in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the broccoli turns tender with beautifully caramelised edges. Once out of the oven, quickly toss with the remaining olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and freshly grated Parmesan while still hot.
Best served straight away. This versatile side complements chicken, salmon, steak, tofu, and chickpeas brilliantly. Equally tasty enjoyed solo or alongside pasta or rice.
Reader Reactions
Recipe enthusiasts were full of praise online, with one commenting: "Delicious beats boiled brockers!" while another enthused: "Love the flavour!"
One health-conscious cook pointed out: "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.
