Spicy Lime Broccolini

This Spicy Lime Broccolini is seriously the EASIEST & most 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!

Why you will love this broiled broccolini

I still can't believe it's taken me two years into blogging to share this recipe with you all! I think part of the reason it's taken so long is because it's one of those recipes thats so easy and we make it so often I always just assumed it was on the blog already. Welp, today I am happy to say it's finally here!

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 broccolini is alongside my Vegan Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes and some crispy tofu or chopped up and add into a pasta made of Homemade Gnocchi with creamy tomato sauce. YUM! It also tastes really good on top of sourdough toast with hummus or on an avocado toast.

What is broccolini anyways?

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 baking tray, season, & preheat broiler

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 peice 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).

Broil the broccolini for 10 minutes

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.

Serve & EAT!

Quite possibly the best part of any recipe. 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!

FAQ & Substitutions

Can I roast the broccolini instead?

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.

I don't have lime juice, what else can I use?

Lemon juice works just as well in this recipe but ives it a slightly different flavor. Another option is to replace with 1-2 tsp of soy sauce instead. 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 broccoli?

A 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 1" slices and broil them too. They add a lot of flavor!

Will this work with frozen broccoli?

Yes and no. It won't work for broiling, however, you can definitely roast frozen broccoli. 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!

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