10 Minute Broccolini Recipe (2024)

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By Courtney ODell

Feb 02, 2024, Updated Feb 20, 2024

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Easy 10 Minute Broccolini Recipe – the easiest way to cook broccolini or baby broccoli in just 10 minutes with tons of garlic butter flavor!

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Table of contents

  • Pan Fried Baby Broccoli
  • How to Make 10 Minute Broccolini
  • Tips to Perfect Pan Fried Broccolini
    • FAQs
  • What to Serve With Broccolini
  • 10 Minute Broccolini Recipe
10 Minute Broccolini Recipe (3)

Pan Fried Baby Broccoli

One of my favorite vegetables has always been broccoli.

I don’t know why- but something about the texture, the slight bitterness, the bright green color- I love to add broccoli in just about any recipe, or just eat it steamed or sautéed.

A few years ago I tried broccolini for the first time- and it was everything I loved about my beloved broccoli, but less bitter- longer, thinner stalks that have a deep, almost asparagus-like flavor, and a deep buttery taste when cooked right.

It quickly became my favorite thing to order out- but I could never master it at home. I recently made some in a hurry, and I found a new way to make broccolini that is now my absolute favorite- all by a happy accident- and we’ve made this delicious side dish five nights in a row since!

We can’t get enough of this 10 Minute Broccolini– it’s buttery, earthy, slightly salty, rich, and full of flavor- and it is SO quick and easy. It also works perfectly in a keto, paleo, low carb, or Weight Watchers diet – and is great alongside basically any dinner you make!

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How to Make 10 Minute Broccolini

To make this easy recipe, you’ll need:

  • Clarified butter. Clarified butter is a great way to help crisp and caramelize vegetables and meats – it has a higher smoke point than butter, but the same rich, delicious creamy flavor – so it’s perfect for getting a nice perfect sear and crunch on vegetables and meats. If you want to make this recipe vegan, you can skip the clarified butter and use avocado oil or olive oil.
  • Olive oil. Olive oil adds with clarified butter to make a perfect fat medium to pan fry broccolini in, so it gets caramelized and tender with tons of irresistible flavor.
  • Broccolini. Broccolini, or baby broccoli, is a cross between broccoli and gai lan, a leafy plant from China similar to broccoli. This results in a long and lean broccoli that is tender, with a light, vegetal taste that is less bitter.
  • Celtic sea salt. I love using a high quality salt that has a salty flavor, without as high sodium as table salt.
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Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use this method:

  • Prep. Trim woody ends off broccolini, drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper. Melt clarified butter in a pan and heat until shimmery.
  • Cook. Add broccolini to pan and caramelize until it has browned and is lightly tender. Add water to pan and cook down until it has become as tender as you’d like.
  • Enjoy!
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Tips to Perfect Pan Fried Broccolini

The secret to broccolini that I stumbled upon is pretty simple- we’re going to sauté it and let it caramelize, and then flash boil it to make it perfectly tender. By doing this all at a pretty high temperature, we’re cutting the cook time dramatically- which ups the flavor for this delicious side dish.

Let it brown. When letting your broccolini sauté, it’s important to let it brown. Browning=flavor!!

Charred bits are ok. Since the broccolini will be a deep, vibrant green, it might almost take on a burnt appearance. Unless you smell burnt bits it isn’t burnt- you’ve just given some caramelization to the florets. You want a brown color, not black.

Stir occasionally. Be sure to toss the broccolini around once a minute (its only sautéing five minutes) so it doesn’t burn. Don’t worry- you got this. Once it’s had a good chance to develop flavor, we just need to add some water to soften the stems a bit.

Add water after browning to soften. Since we’re not adding much water, it won’t take long and will cook off quickly. If you’re in a really dry climate, or your pan is too hot, you might need to add a little extra water. No big deal- just cook it till the water has cooked off, and your broccolini is soft. Don’t flood it, and don’t worry- this is a pretty hard dish to mess up! You can do it!

Trim woody ends. One note- I do like to trim the bottom 1/2″ off of broccolini. I find its a bit woody, like asparagus stems- but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. You might experiment to find what you like the most.

FAQs

How can this recipe be stored?

Leftovers can be stored in a container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Is broccolini just young broccoli?

Broccolini is a different plant, but part broccoli – baby broccoli is a green vegetable similar to broccoli but with smaller florets and longer, thin stalks. It is a hybrid of broccoli and gai lan, a Chinese leafy plant similar to broccoli.

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What to Serve With Broccolini

Broccolini is delicious with all kinds of main dishes, from our top rated baked pork tenderloin, roast chicken, or easy sloppy joes – to easy homemade schnitzel, or a comforting and delicious porcupine meatball recipe!

We also love serving broccolini with Spinach Parmesan Garlic Butter Spaghetti, or Easy Sheet Pan Oven Roasted Chicken and Leeks!

Try these recipes next:

Za’atar Pizza

Chile Relleno Skillet

Roasted Corned Beef

Homemade CrunchWrap

Berry Burrata Salad

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10 Minute Broccolini Recipe

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10 Minute Broccolini Recipe (19)

10 Minute Broccolini

Yield: 3 servings

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

This easy 10 minute broccolini recipe is pan-fried and bursting with flavor - this is the best way to make delicious pan fried baby broccoli, ever! Never bitter and full of rich, buttery flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp clarified butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 package broccolini
  • celtic sea salt, 1/2 tsp
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  1. In a large pan, heat butter until it is melted on medium high.
  2. Add olive oil.
  3. Add broccolini, toss frequently until browned and bright green, about 5 minutes.
  4. Add salt, toss over broccolini.
  5. Add water, cook until water is evaporated and broccolini is soft, another 5 minutes.
  6. Serve hot.
Nutrition Information

Yield 2Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 134Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 16mgSodium 600mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 2gSugar 1gProtein 1g

Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.

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Categorized as:
Broccoli, keto, Keto Vegetables, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet C’s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

Read More About Me

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10 Minute Broccolini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between broccolini and broccoli? ›

Broccoli has a thick, woody stem and a large, flowering head. Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli, and also belongs to the cabbage family. Broccolini have long, firm stalks (thinner and more tender than those of broccoli), a few small leaves and small florets.

Can you eat the ends of broccolini? ›

You eat the entire broccolini, floret and stem! (You can cook the core of regular broccoli stems too, but you need to trim away and discard the outsides first—see this post for the best ever Roasted Broccoli for a tutorial.)

How much of the broccolini can you eat? ›

The stems, leaves, and florets are all edible. You can also choose to steam your broccolini and serve it as a side to complete a tasty, nutritious meal.

How do you take the bitterness out of broccolini? ›

The easiest way to rid broccoli rabe of some of its bitter flavor is by blanching it first. Just a quick dip in boiling water extracts enough of the bitterness and jumpstarts the cooking.

Why is broccolini good for you? ›

Broccolini® is the super simple superfood that is rich in folate, fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants and also low in kilojoules, sugars & sodium. It's a delicious way to add more green veg to your diet to help deliver essential nutrients to keep you feeling good.

Why is broccolini so expensive? ›

Because of its newness and because it provides less quantity in a stalk, broccolini is typically more expensive than broccoli. Substitutes for broccolini are traditional broccoli, Chinese broccoli, broccoli rabe, cauliflower, and asparagus (because broccolini's sweeter flavor is similar to asparagus' sweeter notes).

Why does broccolini taste so good? ›

Broccolini a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It has small florets, long stalks, and a few small leaves — all of which are edible. Compared to the bitter flavor of common broccoli, Broccolini is more mild, with a sweet, earthy taste. And while it can be eaten raw, Broccolini is best when cooked.

What is broccolini called in USA? ›

Often called baby broccoli, broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli (kai lan) that was developed and trademarked in 1993 by Japan's Sakata Seed Corporation. And you may have heard of Tenderstem broccoli — that is just a trademarked name for broccolini.

How to tell if broccolini is bad? ›

If broccolini has gone bad, the color will start to change from bright green to a dull yellow or brown. The stalks might become limp and the florets may show sign of mold growth. Also, if you notice a strong, off-putting smell, don't hesitate to discard the broccolini as it is likely spoiled.

What is the white stuff on my broccolini? ›

White blister is a plant disease that affects brassica crops and is caused by the fungus-like organism Albugo candida. There's no risk to consumers, as the fungus only affects the growth and appearance of brassica plants.

Can you eat too much broccolini? ›

As broccoli is rich in Potassium that causes lowering of blood pressure, an excess consumption can result in hypotension. An excess broccoli consumption can also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Patient on blood thinners can have increased risk of bleeding due to the presence of Vitamin K in broccoli.

Are the little yellow flowers on broccolini edible? ›

You can eat the entire bunch - leaves, stalk, and occasional yellow flowers. Easy to prepare and completely delicious, Broccolini is one of my all-time favorite side dishes. John Darlington has been involved with produce for over half of his life, concentrating in smaller, local markets.

How long does broccolini stay fresh? ›

Broccolini® is the perfect vegetable to keep on stand by in the fridge to whip up a quick dinner. Learn how to store your Broccolini® to ensure it remains fresh. Broccolini® is chilled from the farm until it reaches the store. Broccolini® will keep for around 7 days.

Why is broccolini so much better than broccoli? ›

The verdict. Broccolini – by a hair's breadth! Nutritionally, the two brassicas are very similar. But the excellent vitamin A content of broccolini, together with the fact that it needs less prep and there's no waste, gives it the edge over broccoli for us.

What parts of the broccolini plant are edible? ›

The entire vegetable can be eaten, from the stems and the florets to the tiny yellow flowers that sometimes appear on mature vegetables. Broccolini can also be eaten raw or cooked.

How long should I steam broccolini? ›

Add about 1 inch of water to the pot and bring to a boil. Add broccolini, cover and steam for about 5 minutes. Remove with tongs, season with salt & pepper, then finish with a drizzle of olive oil, about 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Do you cut broccoli before or after boiling? ›

here's something I didn't know. until I was in my thirties. broccoli should be chopped after it's boiled.

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