We’ve shared our favorite, simple recipe for the best oven-roasted broccolini above, but there are plenty of other ingredients and seasoning you can build into the recipe. Some chefs will add a grating of lemon zest to introduce more citrus-based flavors to the broccolini, or you could add chili flakes for a warming heat. As broccolini tends to have a bit more surface area than broccoli, you’ll find it crisps up quicker. This can be a very welcome addition of texture and crunch to the dish, so don’t shy away from browning the broccolini. And so, when it comes to the question of how long to roast broccolini, we’ve suggested around 12 minutes in the recipe above to achieve this browning. But you may need to extract your broccolini from the oven sooner, depending on when it starts to crisp up. Ideally you want to hit the sweet spot of a nice crispy bunch of broccolini that is lightly charred and not burnt.
When purchasing your broccolini, take care to look for bunches that have a vibrant green color and firm stems. If you notice that any of the stems look discolored or dried out then leave these out of your shopping basket, as you won’t get the optimal flavor from these stems.
Broccolini is, in fact, a hybrid vegetable and a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It has a mellow, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor, offering more complexity in flavor than broccoli. To find out more about this ingredient and its health benefits, we have a full guide detailing all you need to know about this vegetable.
How to serve them
Roasted broccolini can be enjoyed warm straight from the oven, and plated alongside your favorite meat or fish dish for an interesting midweek dinner. Or, try using the roasted broccolini in a tasty pasta dish or midweek stir-fry to bring a pop of color to your recipe.
Storage
Roasted broccolini will keep in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container. You can also freeze the broccolini if you want to have a stash ready to cook with. If you want to freeze the broccolini it’s best to freeze them first spread out on a baking sheet for around an hour before then transferring to an airtight container. This helps to prevent the stems sticking together in the freezer and you’ll need to thaw the broccolini in the fridge overnight prior to cooking.