Ok, broccolini vs broccoli. What are your thoughts?
As much as I love regular broccoli, I have to say…I’m team broccolini! In fact, it’s one of my favorite vegetables to cook with. I think it’s so pretty, with its bright green florets and long, slender stems. It’s also easy to prepare and incredibly versatile. You can serve it as a side dish or add it to frittatas, pastas, salads, and more. It’s available in many grocery stores year round, so if you’re not already cooking with it, now’s the time to start!
You can find my best tips for how to cook broccolini below, along with a simple sautéed broccolini recipe that you can serve as a side dish with just about anything. I hope they inspire you to cook this delicious veggie often!
But first thing’s first! What is broccolini, anyway?
Broccolini is also called “baby broccoli,” but the name is a slight misnomer. According to The Vegetarian Flavor Bible by Karen Page, broccolini isn’t just miniature broccoli. Instead, it’s a cross between broccoli and gai-lan, a variety of Chinese broccoli. Though it tastes similar to broccoli, its flavor is milder and sweeter. And when you cook it well, the florets and stems have a fantastic crisp-tender texture.
There are lots of great methods for how to cook broccolini. I love roasting it and blanching it for grain bowls and salads, but, when I want to serve it as a side dish, I typically sauté it with garlic and red pepper flakes. Here’s how I do it:
Remove from the heat and season with a big squeeze of lemon juice. That’s it!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
This sautéed broccolini recipe is a delicious, easy side dish that goes well with almost anything! To start, try pairing it with a simply cooked protein or one of these comforting recipes:
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can enjoy them again as a side dish, either reheated or at room temperature, but they’re also a great starting point for a new meal. Toss them into sesame soba noodles, add them to a grain bowl, or use them in a clean-out-the-fridge frittata. Like I said above, broccolini is one versatile veggie!
If you love this recipe, try one of these simple vegetable side dishes next:
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