This vibrant Sautéed Tenderstem Broccoli with Lemon and Garlic is the perfect side dish for chicken, fish, or even a full on vegan roast dinner. It's just so versatile! Get the recipe below.
What is Tenderstem broccoli?
I love Tenderstem broccoli. If you're in the US you may know it as Broccolini, which is just another brand name for this tasty vegetable. I love it's sweet flavour, vibrant green colour and satisfying crunch. I think it tastes best when it's cooked on a high heat, either sauteed or stir fried so that it is cooked just until it is tender but with a little bite.
It's usually in season from mid-June through to mid-November in the UK but thanks to food imports from warmer climes it can be bought right up to Christmas! As our own seasons shift the season seems to be starting earlier and continuing later.
What a lot of people don't know is that it's actually a hybrid of Chinese kale and broccoli which was first introduced in Japan back in 1993!
How to cook Tenderstem broccoli
You can steam, roast or grill Tenderstem broccoli. It's a versatile ingredient that tastes great regardless of which method is used to cook it.
But, my favourite way to cook Tenderstem broccoli is to sauté it.
Sautéing is a method of cooking that uses just a little bit of oil (or other fat) in a shallow pan over relatively high heat. It's a fast way of cooking that creates a little caramelisation on the outside of the broccoli whilst preserving its texture, and flavour.
I use olive oil for this recipe but a nutty oil would also work really well.
Some sliced garlic is added to the pan for just a few minutes giving it a chance to go golden brown, making the garlic sweet and more mellow. But, we are careful not to cook it so long that it burns and becomes bitter.
To finish the dish I squeeze over a little lemon juice. This sizzles the second it hits the pan making it both sweet and sour. The lemon zest is added just before the broccoli is served for a really fresh flavour.
The Recipe
It's such a simple dish that it can be made in just 15 minutes. This makes it ideal for quick mid-week meals or when you're entertaining and you want a fuss free menu.
Sautéed Tenderstem Broccoli with Lemon and Garlic
Ingredients
- 250 g Tenderstem broccoli
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 0.5 lemon juice and zest
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large frying pan to medium-high and add the olive oil.
- Remove any tough stems then add the broccoli to the pan and cook on a high heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing once or twice as it cooks.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute, tossing to ensure the garlic doesn't catch or burn.
- Squeeze over the lemon juice and let it evaporate before turning off the heat.
- Season with salt and plenty of pepper and toss to combine.
- Serve with the lemon zest sprinkled over the top.
Nutrition
More simple side dishes
If you love my Sautéed Tenderstem Broccoli then you will love these other simple side dishes. They make veggies the star of the show!
The Ultimate Vegan Roast
If you're planning a big vegan roast dinner then check out this epic round up of starters, side dishes, main courses, drinks and desserts.
Although it was originally written to help you serve the perfect vegan Christmas dinner you could pick and choose any of these recipes for a Sunday lunch.
Sally says
Recipe says 10 mins cook time but in the method cook time is 3-4 mins. Please clarify
Emma says
You need to leave the lemon juice to evaporate from the pan which takes another few minutes, hence the overall cook time being 10 minutes. Hope that helps!