Sesame Broccoli Recipe
Finding healthy side dishes your family will love isn't always easy. But this delicious sesame broccoli recipe is sure to be a hit! The flavorful sauce made with classic Japanese flavors is paired with tender roasted broccolini, making it a flavorful side dish perfect for any meal. And since it can be prepared in in under 30 minutes, it's a great option for a busy weeknight dinner!
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What Do I Need to Make Sesame Broccoli?
This delicious side dish is made with a flavorful Japanese sauce. And since you only need six ingredients to prepare sesame broccoli at home, it's going to be your new favorite side dish for weeknight dinners.
- Broccolini, sprouting broccoli, or broccoli florets
- Sesame chili oil
- Tamari
- Agave Nectar
- Sesame seeds
- Coarse sea salt
Looking for more roasted vegetable recipes? Give these reader favorites a try!
Oven Roasted Carrots and Mushrooms | Roasted Asparagus and Carrots with Parmesan Cheese | Simple Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes |Simple Oven Roasted Bell Pepper Strips and Onions | Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
How Do I Make Sesame Broccoli?
This broccolini recipe couldn't be simpler to make! In fact, there's only two steps to follow to prepare it. When you're ready to make this quick side, all you have to do is follow these easy instructions:
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Step One: Season the Broccoli
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the broccolini in an even layer on a baking sheet. Add the sesame chili oil, tamari, and agave to a small bowl. Whisk the sauce ingredients until they're fully combined, then drizzle the sauce over the top of the broccoli.
Step Two: Roast the Broccoli
Place the broccoli on the center rack in the oven to roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pieces are tender and slightly charred around the edges. After roasting, remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle sesame seeds and coarse sea salt over the top of the broccoli before serving.
Sesame Broccoli Recipe Tips & Tricks
You're going to love how simple it is to make this roasted sesame broccoli recipe. With the help of these tips and tricks, you'll be a pro at making this delicious side dish in no time.
- Flip the broccoli for even cooking. While you can simply place your roasting pan in the oven and let it cook, taking the time to flip your broccoli halfway through the cook time can help the pieces cook more evenly. After around 10 minutes, use a pair of tongs to flip the broccoli pieces on the pan to give the top portion of the stalks a chance to sear on the hot metal pan.
- Try toasting your sesame seeds. For quick and easy preparation, you can simply sprinkle sesame seeds over the top of your broccoli before serving. But if you have a few extra minutes, toasting the seeds will add tons of flavor to your side dish. To toast your sesame seeds, place the seeds in a nonstick skillet and cook them over medium, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown.
- Roast longer when using regular broccoli florets. Since broccolini and sprouting broccoli both feature long, tender stems, they don't take as long to cook as regular broccoli. That means you may need to adjust the cooking time if you plan to make this recipe with broccoli florets. It's a good idea to add at least five minutes to the cook time to ensure your florets are fully cooked.
How Do You Get Roasted Broccoli Crispy?
Roasting broccoli is my favorite way to prepare it because it creates a tender bite with a crispy exterior. To get that delicious texture on your roasted broccoli, there are a few simple steps you can take. Try these roasting tips as you're preparing your dinner:
- Don't overcrowd the pan. The key to getting your broccoli crispy is allowing it to touch the metal pan while it cooks. That means the broccoli pieces need to be arranged in an even layer on your pan. If the pan is too crowded, the broccoli will start steaming instead of roasting. To prevent this from happening, try to keep the pieces from touching each other for best results.
- Heat up the pan before adding the broccoli. Another easy way to ensure your broccoli pieces get nice and crispy is to start with a hot pan. While you're cleaning and cutting your broccoli, place the baking sheet in the oven to warm it up. After around 10 minutes, remove the pan and place the broccoli on top, then return it immediately to the oven.
- Roast at a high temperature. Cooking your broccoli in a hot oven is a great way to get it crispy fast. For best results, it's good idea to roast your vegetables at a high temperature - typically around 425 degrees.
- Use parchment paper. Roasting your broccoli with a sauce on top could cause the vegetable pieces to stick to the pan. To help the broccolini roast without sticking, try using parchment paper. Simply lay a piece of parchment paper on top of the baking sheet before spreading the broccoli on top. The paper will allow the broccoli to cook in the sauce and get crispy while also keeping it from sticking to the pan and burning.
Sesame Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb broccolini sprouting broccoli, or broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons sesame chili oil
- 2 tablespoons tamari
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- coarse sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread the broccoli (or broccolini) in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Add the sesame chili oil, tamari, and agave to a small bowl. Whisk the sauce ingredients until they’re fully combined.
- Drizzle the sauce over the top of the broccoli.
- Place the broccoli in the oven on the center rack to roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pieces are tender and slightly charred around the edges.
- After roasting, remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle sesame seeds and coarse sea salt over the top of the broccoli before serving.
