Cheesy Smashed Broccoli
Regular roasted broccoli is forever and always one of my go-to side dishes, but this cheesy smashed broccoli recipe takes it up a few notches in the flavor and texture departments. Smashing the broccoli tenderizes it and provides a flatter surface for loading up with cheese. The method is slightly more involved, naturally, but it’s not too fussy. Basically, we roast the broccoli until tender, smash it, top it with Parmesan cheese, and bake it for a few more minutes. The broccoli is tender, craggy and golden with crispy bits around the edges where the cheese meets the pan. A little sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional) and a squeeze of lemon juice ramp up the flavor.
Ingreadient
- 1 bunch of broccoli (about 1 ½ pounds) or 16 ounces broccoli florets
- 1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Scant ½ teaspoon fine salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 ounces (¾ cup) finely grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a kick)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, to taste
Direction
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit with a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cheese from sticking (parchment paper is key for this recipe!).
- To prepare the broccoli, cut the florets generously, using some stems to keep the little guys intact. First, trim the stalk, then find a natural separation, then cut and turn and find another natural separation, and ultimately the florets should be about 2 to 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick or less. You might need to halve the really big florets to make this work.
- Place the broccoli florets on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil over the broccoli and sprinkle with the salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Toss until evenly coated (if you don’t have enough oil to lightly coat it all, add another small splash). Arrange the broccoli in an even layer across the baking sheet.
- Roast the broccoli for 18 to 21 minutes, until the stems are easily pierced by a fork, then place it on a stable heat-safe surface. Use a sturdy, flat-bottomed jar or glass to smash each piece of broccoli, to the point that the stems splay out a bit. It works best to smash and then slide the jar forward to release the broccoli.
- Once each floret has been smashed, arrange them evenly across the pan again. Distribute the cheese over the broccoli, trying to center the cheese on each smashed broccoli. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, if using, and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the cheese on the pan is turning golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drizzle the lemon juice all over the warm broccoli, and promptly serve while warm. Leftovers will lose their crispness over time but will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 days.
