Roasted Broccoli with Meyer Lemon and Garlic Recipe (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.

Note: Using the lemon juice will turn the broccoli a little bit brown.

Even adults don't enjoy eating their vegetables sometimes. The high water content in some veggies renders them a bit bland on their own, so many people would prefer to make them palatable by adding various ingredients.

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.

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.

It's a great side dish recipe to keep in your back pocket, and goes with just about anything. Roasted broccoli is a healthy side dish with major crowd appeal.

Use a vinegar steam.

Similar to boiling lemons or making stovetop potpourri, vinegar steam is a great way to neutralize potent smells. Add half a cup of vinegar to one cup of water and simmer on the stove while you cook (or after) to absorb any smells in the air.

Cooking broccoli in high heat, caramelizes the outside, creating crispness and a sweet, nutty flavor. The crisp caramelized outside of the broccoli contrasts well with the tender inside of the florets.

What happens when you put lemon in the oven? ›

The combination of the citrus and water will steam the oven, acting as a natural grease buster and softening the grime inside.

Cooking (Or Not Cooking) Broccoli To Protect Its Nutritional Riches : The Salt Cooking broccoli too long destroys the beneficial enzyme that breaks down chemicals into cancer fighters. The best way to eat it is raw or steamed for just two to three minutes, a nutrition expert says.

You can't add an acidic ingredient to broccoli while it is cooking and expect a uniformly bright green color. Lemon juice contains citric acid, the acidic "elements" of which, called hydrogen ions, alter the green pigment chlorophyll in broccoli to a grey-green derivative.

However, one reason that vegetables always taste better at a restaurant is that chefs there don't hold back on using oil to boost flavor. They often use oodles of butter, oil, or bacon fat to coat veggies fried on the stove and give them an umami appeal.

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.

Since you have to cover the vegetables to steam them, the chlorophyll turns a drab, grayish color. You can prevent this by boiling the greens, in salted water. Use a large amount of water, then add salt. The recipe calls for one ounce for every four cups of water.

The answer to this wonder can be summed up in just 2 words: Bacon Fat. It's true. Many restaurants roast or pan-fry their vegetable side dishes in bacon, butter, or other animal fat – or a mixture of these.