Talk about an easy recipe. This Italian broccoli recipe is about the easiest broccoli recipe I have ever created. We are going to use just one pan, add all the ingredients at once and seven minutes later we will have the perfect broccoli side dish. Find out just how easy it is below.
THIS ITALIAN BROCCOLI RECIPE IS:
AN ITALIAN BROCCOLI RECIPE TO MAKE EVERY DAY!
I confess, I love broccoli. I eat it in the morning with eggs. I eat broccoli at lunch. My kids love broccoli too, so I might even eat it again at dinner. This Italian broccoli recipe is my absolute favorite and I make broccoli a lot of different ways to keep it interesting! We are going to give it a quick braise with butter, some spice and just a touch of garlic. The combination is rich and full of flavor. Hopefully you will like it as well!
HOW TO PREPARE THE BROCCOLI
I've had lots of questions over the years about the easiest way to trim broccoli, whether for the steamer or in a pan. Typically I don't even use a knife when working with broccoli. All you need to do is hold it by the stalk, pull of the leaves and then break off the florets at their base. With this method, you can trim an entire head of broccoli in under a minute. I need to make a video for this. It's on the list!
I do like to rinse my broccoli before cooking it. I've found that rinsing the head of broccoli when it is broken down first is easier then rinsing the whole head. For some reason the whole head seems to shed water and I don't think that it gets rinsed well. Remember that even though it doesn't look dirty, it comes from a field somewhere! Toss those florets right into a sieve and give em a good rinse.
BRAISING BROCCOLI
This isn't a hugely popular way to cook broccoli and I'm just not sure why. We are going to load up a pan with a tight fitting lid with all the ingredients, turn the burner on high and in seven minutes, we have perfectly cooked broccoli. When I say perfectly cooked, I mean it. The seasonings are in there. The butter is in there. And there will be no soggy broccoli in this pan. Nobody wants soggy broccoli!
You will find that all of our braising liquid will evaporate, which is a good thing in this case. We don't want our broccoli coming out boiled. When it comes to broccoli, unless you're blanching it, boiled broccoli will lose all of its nutrients and body. Yep, that means soggy, tasteless broccoli. Yuck. With the braising method, we're going to add in just enough water to steam the broccoli. When the water evaporates the butter will continue to cook the broccoli, adding a nice caramelization and flavor.
If you want to kick this up just a notch, add in some crumbled bacon or substitute the butter with some rendered bacon fat. Oh it is just so good.
QUICK COOKING TIP: If you're open to it, using the stalk in this Italian broccoli recipe is a wonderful addition to the dish. I run a vegetable peeler down the outside and cut it up into ¼" thick coins. The coins that are flat on the bottom of the pan pick up a wonderful sear that tastes just incredible. Plus, you get more bang for your buck by using the stalk. It's delicious.
Up next: the Italian Broccoli Recipe.
SPICY ITALIAN BROCCOLI RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 Head Broccoli rinsed and broken into florets
- ⅓ Cup Water
- 2 tablespoon Butter or Bacon Fat
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Clove Garlic minced
- 2 Pinches Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a pan with a tight fitting lid. I use a non-stick pan when I make this recipe. After you add the ingredients, cover with the lid. Place over high heat.
- Cook for 5 minutes or until the water has evaporated. Turn the heat to low, stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the broccoli has reached the desired crispness.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
Final thoughts on the Italian broccoli recipe:
So what do you think? Super easy, right? Five minutes of prep time, one pan and fantastic broccoli the whole family will love. My kids actually request broccoli now with this recipe. I love it when that happens! The funny thing is that I just kind of stumbled into making broccoli this way. I was running way behind on dinner one night and the steamer basket was already in the sink. I thought "what the heck" and just threw all the ingredients in a pan, added some butter and hoped for the best. It was fantastic and now I get to share it with you!
Looking for something to make with this awesome broccoli? For breakfast, I love it with some sunny side up eggs. Or scrambled eggs with a little hot sauce. For lunch try it alongside a beautiful pan seared steak with rosemary and roasted garlic. If you're looking for some dinner suggestions, try it alongside some crispy oven roasted chicken or some delicious bratwurst and buttered cabbage.
Hopefully you like the recipe. Post up if you make it! Thank you for reading too!
14 Responses
Who knew broccoli could be so tasty this easily. I always have steamed or boiled my broccoli. I love the crisp broccoli bits too!!
Hi Allison:
It's incredible. I think I don't make it often enough.
Thank you for writing.
Have a delightful day in the kitchen!
Scott
I'm making this right now with the bacon fat. I hope it turns out good, sounds delicious 🙂
Hey Robin:
Thank you for stopping by. How did yours come out?
Have a great day in the kitchen!
Scott
This is going to be dinner tonight along with some pasta. Looks delicious.
Hi Trisha:
How did it turn out for you?
Take care and have a great day in the kitchen!
Scott
A very good, easy and tasty recipe with enough heat that doesn't interfere with the taste of the broccoli that turned out great. I used butter this time but next time the bacon fat will get the nod, another layer of taste. Thanks.
Delicious! Easy to prepare (I used butter), quick and enjoyed by all the family from 2 years old to 60. No more steamed broccoli in this house. It would be easy to adapt this recipe to add different seasonings or parmesan cheese if desired.
this recipe is straight up dope being replaced by fire both meaning the absolute best I have ever tasted
broccoli it is now my all time favorite I will pass this on to friend and foe alike
Yes! So glad you enjoyed it! It's one of our favorites!