Garlic Butter Broccoletti
Garlic Butter Broccoletti is a bright and delicious side dish that will be on the table in ten minutes. Healthy and simple, you should definitely add this yummy vegetable to your repertoire.
Easy vegetable side dishes are my favorite. I serve vegetables with every meal, and the preparation has to be simple. Often, I fall into a pattern of roasted brussels sprouts, asparagus and green beans, on repeat. Well, this week, when I saw a little package labeled “broccoletti” on my grocery store shelf, I thought I would venture just a little bit outside my usual. I’m so glad I did!
Broccoletti (or broccolini) is a lovely little vegetable that cooks up super quickly. Sautéed with some butter, garlic and lemon, it is bright, flavorful, and goes with just about everything. Best of all, it’s a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables and packs a punch of vitamins and minerals. We served this on pasta night (with my kids’ favorite pasta), and the first thing that got requested for seconds was the broccoletti! That’s a serious win for vegetables everywhere.
You Will Love This
- This easy sautéed broccoletti is delicious – bright, flavorful, and tender-crisp.
- Broccoletti is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. Broccoletti is a great way to get a little extra Vitamin C in your diet this fall.
- This dish goes from fridge to table in about 10 minutes. That’s less than the amount of time it takes my kids to get to the table when I call them for dinner!
What is broccoletti?
Broccoletti is a hybrid vegetable that is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It goes by many names, including broccoletti, broccolini, tenderstem broccoli, baby broccoli or young broccoli. Broccoletti is tender and delicious. It is best cooked, and you eat the entire plant, including the stem and the occasional yellow flower that you might find brightening up your broccoletti. Broccoletti looks very similar to broccoli rabe – both have longer tender stems and looser florets than broccoli – but it tastes a lot different. Broccoletti is mild and sweeter than broccoli. Broccoli rabe is much more bitter (it is actually related to the turnip!).
Ingredients
To make garlic butter broccoletti, you will need (exact measurements are in the recipe card below).
Ingredient Notes
- Olive oil: This is used first at a higher heat to sear the broccoletti. If you used butter right off the bat at a high heat it would burn.
- Butter: For flavor! We melt this into the broccoletti at the end, right before serving.
- Lemon: You can use just lemon juice, or add some lemon zest for a little extra punch of lemon flavor.
Make it your own!
This recipe is a blank slate – you can really customize it any way you like. Here are a few ideas:
- Add some red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese.
- Substitute the salt for soy sauce, and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.
- Drizzle some cream sauce or cheese sauce over the top for a more decadent side dish!
Instructions
Step One: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the broccoletti, season with salt, and sautée for 3-4 minutes, until the tips of the broccoletti start to char slightly.
Step Two: Turn the heat down to medium. Add the water to the pan, and continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes, until the water is fully absorbed and the broccoletti is bright green. Add the butter and garlic to the pan, along with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Step Three: Stir in the melting butter for 1-2 minutes, to lightly toast the garlic and make sure the butter and lemon sauce is fully coating the broccoletti. Serve and enjoy!
Storage
Store leftover broccoletti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, sprinkle a little water over the top and microwave it. This will steam the broccoli a bit and help it reheat more evenly.
Garlic Butter Broccoletti
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 16 ounces broccoletti
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 squeeze fresh lemon (about 1/4 lemon)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the broccoletti, season with salt, and sautée for 3-4 minutes, until the tips of the broccoletti start to char slightly.
- Turn the heat down to medium. Add the water to the pan, and continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes, until the water is fully absorbed and the broccoletti is bright green. Add the butter and garlic to the pan, along with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Stir in the melting butter for 1-2 minutes, to lightly toast the garlic and make sure the butter and lemon sauce is fully coating the broccoletti. Serve and enjoy!
