The Simplest Roasted Broccoli

A million years ago, (by which I mean August,) I posted a recipe for Spice-Crusted Roasted Salmon, and in the comments my friend Amanda asked about the broccoli that I served to go alongside it. In my response I told her that it was just the simplest of dishes: broccoli roasted at a high temperature with extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper. I also promised I would do a post about it soon, even though it is so easy you don’t even need a recipe.  But summer turned to fall, and fall to winter, and here we are.  Better late than never, right?

And since it’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, I came to the computer tonight determined to get something to you, and quick and easy (in the cooking and the writing both) are my watch words. You see, my house has been under quarantine the last week and a half: like everyone else, we got hit by the flu, by bronchitis, by random fevers and by unending cacophonous coughs that make you want to cry. Sure we all had our flu shots, but as the media has reported, this year was a misfire on that front. So all four of us were home this week, looking and feeling as pathetic as can be, and cooking and blogging were the last things on my mind. But the fog has lifted, and we’re all heading back to school and work tomorrow. And healthy, bright and green seems a smart way to go. Oh, and did I mention quick and easy? Because that’s key.

While I’m happy enough to have broccoli raw in a salad, the stalks sliced up in a slaw, or simply steamed in the microwave, roasting this vegetable transforms the ordinary into something crispy, salty, sweet and utterly addictive. As long as you have plenty of air circulating around each little piece, the high heat allows the natural sugars in it to caramelize, and you get a great mix of crunchy and tender all at the same time. (If you pile it all onto your baking sheet, you just end up steaming it in the oven, so make sure to spread it all out!) Instead of an obligation, it’s more of a finger food that you just can’t stop picking off of the tray, even before it hits a serving bowl or your plate. My kids will eat tons of it, and it’s so surprising that I even set it out as a snack one night at book club. Just like chips would have, it disappeared quickly. (Don’t worry, I offered plenty of cheese, wine and chocolate too, so I wasn’t trying to make a statement or anything. I’m not crazy…)

If roasted broccoli hasn’t been on your radar, or if you’ve tried it with little success, please pick some broccoli up at the store the next time you go. If you’re lazy like I mostly am, you can even buy a bag of already cut and washed broccoli in the produce section, and your prep time will be around 3 minutes. And if you line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, and toss everything right on it, your clean up will be about the same. And it doesn’t have to be the height of summer for this, because even slightly sad and dying broccoli will perk right up with this treatment. When I’ve left mine in the fridge for a bit too long, this is the salvation.

Of course, if you are feeling more ambitious and want to take it to another level, my favorite recipe to do that is one that I found in The FOOD52 Cookbook. (All the recipes are from their website, which you should really check out. But while the website can be overwhelming with so many options, the book narrows it down to the ones you really want to cook.  It’s an affiliate link, but only because I use it all the time and I think you’ll love it too.)  Roasted Bagna Cauda Broccoli adds a few more steps that include butter, anchovies, garlic, lemon, parmesan and almonds, and will make you moan with delight. (Over broccoli. Moan. Seriously. Not a “When Harry Met Sally” moan, but an “I can’t talk to you, I’m enjoying every minute of this broccoli” moan.) But you know, that takes some extra effort, ingredients and planning, and doesn’t happen for me on a weeknight. But when I have some time, it’s absolutely worth it.

But back to basics: this super simple, quick and easy, extra healthy roasted broccoli is a side dish you can make while trying to accomplish other things (like trying to recover from the plague.) And once you have it, you can eat it on it’s own, or toss it into a salad, or use it to top a pizza with some red onions, feta and a sprinkling of fresh herbs. Add it to your repertoire and you won’t be sorry.