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This easy recipe features tender-crisp broccolini cooked with garlic and butter, then topped with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Sauteed broccolini takes minutes to make, and it’s one of the tastiest ways to enjoy this delicious veggie.
This super-simple broccolini recipe is just perfect for those busy, time-crunch dinners! All you have to do is give the brocolini a rinse, and cut off any tough stems. Then, it’s ready for a quick saute in butter, with a blast of flavor from fresh garlic and lemon.
If you’ve ever wondered how to cook broccolini, this method is foolproof and delivers delicious results every time. In our house, broccolini is a go-to side dish, especially when paired with my husband’s favorite pesto salmon or a juicy roasted chicken. We love the combination of the tender broccolini with the savory garlic and tangy lemon—it’s a hit with everyone at the table!
Why I Love This Broccolini Recipe
- Quick and Convenient: With a total preparation and cooking time of just 10 minutes, this sautéed broccolini recipe is perfect for those hectic evenings when time is scarce.
- Flavorful and Nutritious: Combining the fresh taste of broccolini with the rich flavors of garlic, lemon, and butter, this recipe delivers a deliciously wholesome side dish.
- Versatile Side Dish: Its ease of preparation and delightful taste make this broccolini recipe a versatile companion to a wide range of main courses, enhancing any meal.
What Is Broccolini?
Broccolini, a hybrid between traditional broccoli and Chinese broccoli, features long, tender stalks with crunchy florets. It offers a taste similar to regular broccoli but with a slightly sweeter flavor. Not only is it delicious, but broccolini is also a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins A and C, folate, iron, and potassium, all while being low in calories, making it an excellent choice for health-conscious individuals. (Source)
Recipe Ingredients
When you see a nice, short ingredient list, you know it’s gonna be a good dish, amirite? I love how easy and fast it is to get this sauteed broccolini recipe on the table.
- Broccolini: For this recipe, you’ll need 1 to 1.5 pounds of fresh broccolini.
- Butter: I use a tablespoon of real butter for this sauté.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic, lightly chopped, adds so much flavor!
- Water: A half a cup of water is needed for creating a steamy environment to tenderize the broccolini.
- Lemon Zest: This makes a lovely optional garnish.
- Lemon Wedges: Optional, for serving.
How to Cook Broccolini
This dish comes together in one skillet for a quick prep. Be sure to have your skillet lid on hand, and take care not to let the butter burn while sautéing. Pro tip: add a touch of high-heat oil, like avocado oil, to the butter to help prevent scorching.
- Prep Broccolini: Rinse the broccolini well and pat it dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Cut off the bottom third of the broccolini stems and discard. Set the broccolini aside.
- Sauté Broccolini: Melt the pat of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is heated, add the prepared broccolini to the butter, and saute for 5 or 6 minutes, until the broccolini turns bright green and the stems and tops are lightly browned.
- Season: Season the dish with salt and pepper, then stir in the chopped garlic and toss lightly to coat.
- Steam: Add the water to the skillet and cover. This will trap the steam in the skillet. Cook this way for 1 to 2 minutes, or until broccolini is crisp-tender.
- Serve: Transfer the veggies to a serving dish, garnish with lemon zest and serve with lemon wedges.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- Choose Fresh: Broccolini should have firm, tightly packed florets and fresh green stems that are firm and unblemished. Steer clear of yellowed, limp, or spotted stalks of broccolini.
- Substitutions: For a vegan version of this dish, you can simply use avocado oil, olive oil, or vegan butter. You can also use lime zest and wedges rather than lemon, and even use broccoli florets instead of broccolini!
- Mix-In Magic: Dress up the dish by adding sliced mushrooms with the broccolini, topping with freshly grated Parmesan, or garnishing with thinly julienned basil.
Serving Suggestions
If you need something to serve with this broccolini side dish, this Creamy Pork Marsala is perfect, as are these rich and savory Slow Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Ribs. This delicious vegetarian Macedonian Shakshuka or Chicken Orzo Recipe pairs well with sautéed broccolini.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- To Store: Cool the broccolini to room temperature, and then place it into food storage bags or shallow, airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to two days or freeze for up to 6 months.
- To Reheat: thaw broccolini overnight in the refrigerator (if frozen). Then, heat a spoonful of olive oil in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the broccolini and toss to coat. Cover and cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
More Healthy Side Dishes to Try
- Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges
- Maple Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
- Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Dressing and Feta Cheese
- Grilled Vegetables with Halloumi
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
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Sauteed Garlic Broccolini
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccolini
- 1.5 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
- ½ cup water, or vegetable broth
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- lemon zest, for garnish
- lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the broccolini.
- Cut off the bottom third of the broccolini and discard. Set the broccolini aside.
- Melt butter in a skillet set over medium-high heat.
- Once butter is heated, add broccolini to the butter and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, or until bright green and stems are lightly browned. Stir occasionally.
- Season the broccolini with salt and pepper.
- Stir in garlic and toss around to coat.
- Add water to the skillet; cover and cook for 2 minutes or until the broccolini is crisp-tender.
- Remove from heat and transfer the broccolini to a plate.
- Garnish with parsley and lemon zest; serve with lemon wedges.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Delicious and simple
Thank YOU! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
It’s literallly perfect. I’ll make this the rest of my life. Maybe some parm sprinkled over? I feel like you could really tinker with it but I ate the entire pound of it and didn’t share. Well done
Super simple and flavorful
I am currently making this now. All I can say is, wow & yummy! I will be making this a lot. Thanks for sharing