Spicy Lime Broccolini

Name: Spicy Lime Broccolini
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 16 oz broccolini (ends trimmed); 2 tablespoon avocado oil; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1/2-1 teaspoon salt (I use 1/2 tsp in the seasoning and sprinkle another 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt on top after broiling); 1 teaspoon lime juice; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

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This Spicy Lime Broccolini is an easy & delicious way to enjoy broccoli. Whether you make it roasted or broiled, this is the ultimate vegan & gluten-free side dish packed with tons of flavor. With only 6 ingredients, you won't want to make broccolini any other way ever again!

a plate full of broccolini with lime wedge and flaky salt

Why you will love this broccolini recipe

We've been making this easy spicy broccolini for years & it's truly a staple in my home. It's tangy, spicy, crunchy, and it's literally the only way we cook broccolini in this household.

My absolute FAVORITE way to enjoy this roasted broccolini is alongside my Vegan Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes and some crispy tofu. I also love it chopped up and added to a dish of Homemade Gnocchi with creamy tomato sauce. It also tastes great on top of sourdough toast with hummus or on avocado toast.

What is broccolini?

Believe it or not, broccolini is actually a hybrid between the traditional broccoli you are used to and Chinese broccoli. It's longer and skinnier than traditional broccoli and I find it to be slightly sweeter and more flavorful.

How to make spicy broccolini

Ingredients:

Broccolini
Lime Juice
Neutral Oil
Red Pepper Flakes
Garlic powder
Salt

Rinse & chop the broccolini

First things first, rinse and chop the broccolini. I like to cut off the very bottom of the steps (about 1 inch) as they tend to be tough, but otherwise, I cook and eat the entire broccolini.

Broccolini stems are actually full of vitamins & nutrients and taste amazing cooked. Seriously, don't throw them out!

After that, I do cut some of the larger pieces of broccolini in half. This helps them cook evenly and get properly crispy.

Finally, make sure to pat the broccolini dry. Leaving extra water on top makes it harder for the seasoning to stick and also leads to less crispy broccolini (it essentially gets steamed vs. crispy).

Add to tray & season

At this point, turn the broiler on. Most broilers do need to be preheated for about 5-10 minutes so you can preheat to the right temperature of 500-550F. Broiling the broccolini helps to caramelize the edges and give them that nice charred flavor.

Then, add the chopped broccolini to a baking sheet. If you know your baking pan is non-stick (like the one I have from Nordic Ware) you don't need to add parchment paper.

Then, season with lime juice, chili flakes, avocado oil (or any cooking oil), salt, and garlic powder. Use your hands so each broccolini piece is coated in seasoning. While some layering is okay, try to spread out the broccolini as much as possible. Otherwise, it will steam rather than roast.

If you don't have a big enough aluminum pan, just use two pans for this recipe instead (but make sure both are at the same height in the oven or they will not cook the same).

tray topped with uncooked and seasoned broccolini

Broil & serve

Yes, this recipe only needs 10 minutes of cooking time. WAHOO! It's really important that you add the pan to the MIDDLE rack. Why? If it's on the top rack, your broccolini will cook too fast on the outside and end up burnt.

Check the broccolini at the 8-minute mark to make sure it's not burning. For my oven, 10 minutes is the perfect amount of time to broil the broccolini so it gets crispy on top and fully cooked. Anywhere from 8-12 minutes is normal so just keep an eye on your oven during this time.

Also, I want to note a little charred flavor is GOOD for this blistered broccoli.

I like to serve this spicy lime broccolini with some flaky sea salt on top as well as a wedge of lime. Simple, easy, and DELISH!

tray topped with roasted broccolini stems

FAQ & Expert Tips:

Can I roast broccolini?

Totally! If you're looking for a more even bake without extra crispy pieces of broccolini, then roasting also works. Simply preheat the oven to 400F and roast for 15- 20 minutes. It will take longer, but still tastes great.

What can I substitute for lime juice?

Lemon juice works just as well in this recipe but gives it a slightly different flavor. Another option is to replace it with 1-2 tsp of soy sauce. In that case, omit the salt from the recipe as soy sauce has plenty of sodium to flavor this dish.

What oil works best for broiling vegetables?

High heat oil is going to work best here. While olive oil is okay, it's not BEST for this recipe. I recommend grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or avocado oil instead.

Will this recipe work with normal broccoli?

Yep! I recommend cutting each broccoli stem in half so it gets crispier. Also, cut the broccoli stems into slices and broil them too. They add a lot of flavor!

Should you steam broccoli before roasting?

You can, but it really is not necessary for this recipe.

Can I roast frozen broccoli in the oven?

Yes-roasting frozen broccoli will work, but broiling will not work.

Follow the same steps but then roast for 20-25 minutes at 400F instead. A longer roasting period allows the excess moisture from frozen foods to disappear. It won't be QUITE as crispy as fresh broccoli, but it's a good life hack to know about!

a plate full of broccolini with lime wedges

I truly hope you love this flavorful & easy Spicy Lime Broccolini! It's truly one of those go-to staple recipes to make any time you have some extra broccoli in this house or when you need a simple side dish for a dinner party. Enjoy!

-TSG

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