Roasted Lemon Parmesan Broccoli

Could roasted lemon parmesan broccoli be the best broccoli side dish there is? It is very possible. And I'm willing to say yes. The texture and flavour of roasted broccoli are something enjoyable and unexpected. Some friends and family members may turn up their noses when you say you're having broccoli with dinner. But, when you serve them this, they will change their tune. If they don't, you can always get new friends and family. Alright, let's get cooking!

How To Make Roasted Lemon Parmesan Broccoli

Usually, at this point in the post, I would list all the ingredients in the recipe but do I really need to? I mean, it's all kind of there in the name. The only additional ingredients are olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes and salt. So, that's it. Now, the first step to making this dish is optional. You don't have to do it. It will just speed up the roasting time. The benefit of not doing it is that the finished broccoli will be crisper. So, do you want a quicker cooking time or more crispy broccoli? That is a decision you'll have to make for yourself. And this first step I'm talking about is, of course, blanching.

How to cut broccoli

First things first, you need to cut the broccoli into florets. Cut the bottom inch or two off the stem and discard it. You don't need it. Now, cut the broccoli from the bottom up. Cut the stem, not through the florets. This will keep most of the broccoli intact and will make less of a mess than if you cut it from the top down. In total, you want between four and five cups of broccoli.

How to blanch broccoli

Before you start cutting the broccoli, fill a large pot with water. Add a teaspoon of salt and bring it to a boil on high heat. Also, get a medium or large mixing bowl, and add some ice and water to it. Put the cut broccoli in the boiling water for one minute. Drain the broccoli and immediately add it to the ice water. Gently stir the broccoli until it has completely cooled. Next, drain the broccoli again. This time, drain as much water off of it as possible. Then pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel or a paper towel. The more dry the broccoli, the more roasted it will be. Blanching has the added effect of helping to keep the broccoli bright green rather than turning brown in the oven.

Seasoning the broccoli

The broccoli is cut, blanched, and dried. Now it's time to season and roast it. To make the seasoning grab another mixing bowl and put in it the crushed red pepper flakes, olive oil, and salt. Put the broccoli in the bowl and stir to coat it. Next, zest the lemon into the bowl and grate the parmesan in as well. Mix the broccoli really well. Rather than doing this the way that I did, which was kind of dumb, you can zest the lemon and grate the parmesan into the oil, mix it up, then toss in the broccoli. I'm not sure why I did it the way I did. Also, if you choose not to blanch the broccoli, don't add the parmesan until the broccoli is almost cooked, or it will burn.

How to roast broccoli

Preheat your oven to 400°f. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the seasoned broccoli out onto the sheet pan in a single layer. Put the broccoli in the oven on the middle rack for 15 minutes. Then, take the broccoli out of the oven, flip the pieces, and put it back in the oven for another 12 to 15 minutes or until the broccoli is golden brown. If you didn't blanch the broccoli, roast it for 22 minutes, flip and roast it for another 18 to 22 minutes, adding the parmesan 10 minutes after flipping it. When the broccoli comes out of the oven, finish it with a little more parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Then, you can eat it as is for a snack, serve it as a side dish, or put it in a salad.

Wrap Up

It is no secret that I love roasted vegetables, but roasted broccoli has to be one of my absolute favourites. It always reminds me of my first job working in a Chinese Restaurant. Not because that restaurant served roasted broccoli, but because when broccoli was stir-fried in those super hot commercial woks, it took on that same roasted flavour. If you've never had roasted broccoli, you are missing something special from your life. You don't even need to add the lemon and parmesan to enjoy it. It will be delicious no matter what.

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