Broccolini with Garlic-Lemon Butter Sauce

broccolini-1

Do you buy the same vegetables over and over again? Guilty, guilty, guilty. So, I was happy to see that one of this month’s Barefoot Bloggers bonus challenges was to try a vegetable I’d never even heard of: broccolini.

Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. The florets are looser and more tender than you find with broccoli, and the stalks are longer and thinner, more like asparagus. Group members found it listed as broccolini, baby broccoli, aspiration and tender stem, so keep those aliases in mind, and look near the leafy greens instead of the broccoli.

Ina Garten’s Sautéed Broccolini is a simple side: blanch the broccolini, make the garlic-lemon butter sauce, then add the broccolini to the pan with the sauce. The mild-flavored florets soak in the sauce and make a really bright, lemony side dish. But I’m thinking the tender stalks of the broccolini would be even better in a stir-fry. Maybe then Jeff will try them. For now, he’s holding out for the Barefoot Bloggers second bonus recipe: Brownie Pudding.

Sautéed Broccolini

From Ina Garten (“Barefoot Contessa,” Food Network)

Serves 6

  • 1 bunch broccolini
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 lemon, zested
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Blanch the broccolini in a large pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Drain immediately and immerse in a bowl of ice water.

2. Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the lemon zest and garlic and stir. Drain the broccolini and add it to the garlic mixture and heat for 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper, and toss well before serving.

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Comments

  • DebinHawaii March 19th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    I liked this recipe too, I love me some lemon and garlic. My "baby broccoli" actually was by the broccoli at Whole Foods. Could this veggie be any more confusing! ;-) (And expensive!)

  • Kristin March 19th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    I found you on NaBloPoMo – I'm "The Goat" in the March Blogroll.

    I have to say, I never knew what broccolini was, but I have enjoyed it several times. I'm thinking this is going to be on the table at our place within the week. I love that I learned something on my first trip to your blog! Expect to see me again :) Nice to meet you!

  • chocolatechic March 19th, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    I didn't make this because there is no broccolini to be found in my area.

    I did, however, make the brownie pudding.

    Fabulous!!!

  • Talia March 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am

    You described what broccolini is perfectly! When people asked me all I could come up with was extra long broccoli :)

  • Summer March 20th, 2009 at 12:36 am

    My husband can't wait for the bread pudding either. I'll be making it this weekend. I loved the broccolini. Glad you got to try a new veg.

  • Summer March 20th, 2009 at 12:37 am

    oops, I meant brownie pudding. Is is Friday yet?

  • MaryBeth March 20th, 2009 at 12:45 am

    I love broccolini.. I have made it a few times by drizzling with EVOO, salt and chopped garlic then roast it in the oven. It comes out so nutty and delish!!

  • Delta Whiskey March 19th, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    Glad you could find it. We didn't have it (not even at Target… which is known to have the more "snobby" ingredients in my area). Oh, well. We'll try it sometime!

  • Cathy March 20th, 2009 at 2:42 am

    I did not make this yet, but it really does sound like a nice side veggie. It is always fun to try new veggies. I have to admit that I am curious to find out whether I can find broccolini around here. If not, I guess I'll just have to make the brownie pudding.

  • Jenni March 20th, 2009 at 3:21 am

    Can I please just say that Ezra Pound Cake is the best name for a blog ever? I, too am married to a techie named Jeff. Interesting:) Broccolini was the Veg of Choice at the restaurants I used to work in–they braised it. Very tasty. This sounds like a lovely preparation, too. That Ina is something else:)

  • Nicisme March 20th, 2009 at 6:16 am

    One of my favourite veggies, love what you did with it!

  • Elyse March 20th, 2009 at 6:45 am

    YUM! I love broccolini. It is more delicious than broccoli, I think. And I just love what you've done with it!! Way to introduce yourself to a fabulous new veggie.

  • Sister Jenn March 20th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    why can't they cross broccoli with something that tastes good, like WITH the brownie pudding? That'd be my kinda veggie. It's like crossing a cockroach with a iguana. Interesting but i still don't want one in my house. Or why can't they deep fry broccoli like okra? That makes okra my #1 fav veggie. Small crunchy nuggets of non-flavored goodness.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Can't wait to try the brownie pudding! We're making it tonight.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    A bundle here was around $4. I can't imagine how expensive it would be in Hawaii.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Nice to meet you, too! I'm glad you found our blog. About to look you up on the NaBloPoMo blogroll…

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Oh! I hate it when Target is a letdown, although I'm in total shock that your Target might have had something like that. Really?

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    Extra-long broccoli is perfect! It's all about those stems.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    I need to make more of an effort to try new vegetables, but I usually go with what I KNOW will get eaten. We're making the brownie pudding tonight. Everyone says it's fantastic!

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    Oh, I bet it's even better roasted. I'll have to try that sometime.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    It will be a sacrifice, I know, but it takes the heart of a lion to choose brownie pudding over broccolini. ;)

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    Thanks! I was surprised the name wasn't taken. And techies named Jeff are universally HAWT. Braised broccolini is one I'll have to try. Ina is rarely off the mark.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    I really like the broccolini. So much easier to eat than broccoli. I chopped it up the next day and tossed it with some leftover pasta – yum. Yay for new veggies!

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Can't believe I'd never heard of it. One of the nice things about Barefoot Bloggers is being forced to try things you wouldn't normally come across.

  • Rebecca March 21st, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    Maybe you need to rock the best of both worlds and make some veggie tempura. Or eat the brownie pudding and take a multivitamin. ;)

  • Sarah March 21st, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    wow… sometimes simple things are so appealing.

  • BMK March 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    Love the stir fry idea. This was simple but delicious.

  • sumo girl August 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    I just found this article since I wanted to braise some remaining rappini which is almost (if not exactly) identical to broccilini. Just used it with sausages & eggs Sicilian style. Also just made a stirfry with partial rappini, sausage, bamboo shoots, straw mushrooms and black bean & garlic sauce. Great! I can send recipe if desired.

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