Sauteed Broccolini with Garlic

The best sautéed broccolini recipe! You will learn a sauté technique known as steam frying - both the resulting crisp-tender texture and the flavor surpass what you'd get from regular sauteeing.

This easy method to sauté broccolini creates a flavorful charred outside, perfect texture and vibrant green color. It takes no time at all and can easily become your favorite way to cook baby broccoli as a side dish.

What is Broccolini? 

Broccolini is a vegetable that is a hybrid of broccoli, a cross between regular broccoli and gai lan (also called Chinese broccoli). It has very tender stalks and delicious, mildly flavored florets. 

It is relatively new to the world of Brassica oleracea cultivars and was developed in Japan by the Sakata Seed Company in the late nineteen eighties. Since about 1996 it has been grown commercially in Mexico, known as asparation, and began to be imported into the US as broccolini in 1998. Other popular names around the world include brocoletti and broccolette.

NOTE: Broccolini should not be confused with broccoli rabe despite their visual similarities. Broccoli rabe tastes stronger and slightly bitter and is not nearly as tender. 

Ingredients for This Sautéed Broccolini Recipe

Broccolini.  This recipe is for a couple of bunches broccolini (about a pound), with some of the stems trimmed (only the thicker, longer bits). If you choose to keep the entire stalks, add a tad bit more olive oil and water than specified to accomodate them. The flowers and leaves are edible so go ahead and cook them too.

Extra virgin olive oil. Because this broccolini preparation is so simple and so little fat is needed extra virgin oil is just the source of flavor to coat the tender florets with.  

Garlic cloves. Minced, add it to taste. We tend to be generous in its use for this dish.

Seasonings & water. Besides salt and pepper you can flavor the garlic broccolini with a pinch of red pepper flakes or a couple of Parmesan cheese shavings. You need about ¼ cup of water to steam the broccolini, maybe an extra tablespoon, depending on how hot the skillet.

TIP: Choose a large skillet/sauté pan that can hold all of the broccolini while steam can escape. The broccolini does become smaller as it loses water content while sauteed, but in the beginning you need a suitably sized skillet to accomodate the bulk of the florets.

How to Cook Broccolini

The most popular ways to cook broccolini are traditional steaming and sauteing and while they get the job done, neither method creates flavor from the natural sugars and amino acids on the surface of the vegetable. And oven roasting it in a sheet pan is just a sad affair. Roasted broccolini ends up dry and fibrous. 

We eat broccolini once a week, faithfully, and always rely on the fabulous method presented below for a perfectly cooked, delicious bright green vegetable.

The steam frying sauté method, even though little known as an official cooking technique, delivers a far superior cooked vegetable. Nuances of flavor are born via the Maillard reaction while the broccolini is seared in a hot pan with only a small amount of oil.

We commonly char our veggies beyond what you see in the pictures below (personal preference) by simply letting it sauté a bit longer than what this recipe calls for.

Step-by-Step Sautéed Broccolini 

Heat skillet. Place a pan or a skillet over a medium-high heat burner for 2-3 minutes, until hot. Prep, wash and drain the broccolini.

Sear. Add the olive oil, coat the pan and toss the prepared broccolini. Let sear for a couple of minutes to create a slight char. Stir as needed to avoid burning.

Garlic. Stir in the minced garlic and allow it to become fragrant.

Steam. Add the water and let them broccolini steam as it evaporates.  

Season. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste when there is very little water remaining in the pan, stir again, cook another minute. 

TIP: You are not likely to have leftovers but in the event that you do store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Ways to Enjoy Sautéed Broccolini with Garlic

This healthy side dish, rich in fiber and a nutrition powerhouse can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. 

• on its own as a side to your protein of choice, seasoned with some red pepper flakes to taste
• as a topping for ramen, along with soft boiled egg etc. (one of our favorite ways to enjoy it)
• as the base of a salad - add some shaved red onions, pine nuts and burrata cheese and marvel at your creation
• folded into a bowl of pasta with just olive oil and Parmesan cheese
• as a topping for creamy polenta with shrimp
• as a topping for rice
• in fish tacos, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• as a side with some feta cheese crumbles
• as a vegetable addition to a soup such as basic egg drop or chicken noodle - simply add it to the soup