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Sometimes I have an idea so brilliant that I need to stop whatever it is I'm doing and start working on that idea right away. This week, I had one of those ideas—I would Photoshop my cats into the Kardashian Christmas card. YES. And I did it, but it didn't quite work out as I had planned because I have surprisingly few pictures of my cats standing straight up, so I couldn't replace the Kardashians with cats. And then I thought that maybe I would Photoshop my cats' heads onto the Kardashians' bodies, but that would take this project from "Ha ha, cats!" to "I think Kiersten is having some kind of mental break and needs help." So in the end, I just had to Photoshop my cats around the Kardashians, which wasn't nearly as awesome as my original idea. Isn't it the worst when you have an idea that sounds so great and then it doesn't work out?
But then sometimes you have ideas you're not sure about and they end up being even better than expected. Like this Roasted Broccoli with Meyer Lemon & Garlic! I wasn't sure if it would work, but it did and we loved it. I make roasted broccoli a lot as an easy side—normally, I just toss it with a little olive oil and seasoning salt, but I thought I would try jazzing things up with thin slices of Meyer lemon. (Why does the phrase "jazzing up" always make me think of someone with a bad perm and mom jeans?)
When I put lemon slices on pizza earlier this year, a few people were a little skeptical about that idea. But if you cut them thin, you can totally eat them! They're chewy and delicious, giving a burst of citrus flavor to any dish you add them to. I used Meyer lemons because they're in season and they're slightly less tart than their non-Meyer counterparts. If the thought of eating lemons just doesn't appeal to you, you can remove them before eating. But you're missing out!
Recipe
Roasted Broccoli with Meyer Lemon and Garlic
An easy side dish that combines broccoli with tart Meyer lemon slices and garlic.
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Prep Time: 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 20 minutesminutes
Total Time: 25 minutesminutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: Broccoli side dish, roasted broccoli, Roasted Broccoli with Meyer Lemon and Garlic
Toss all of the ingredients in a bowl. Transfer to a baking sheet that's been sprayed with additional oil or lined with parchment paper. Roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, until the broccoli is tender and just beginning to brown.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Paula – bell’alimentosays
I love roasting veggies! This recipe sounds like a winner! The addition of the lemons is wonderful!
Reply
Marysays
I've never really liked the lemon and broccoli combo...but your pics look really nice 🙂
Yum! I love roasting broccoli, and with lemon is one of my favourite ways. I don't usually use whole lemon slices, though. This is something I'll have to try out. Oh - and I so wish your adventures with photoshopping had worked out! Amazing!
Reply
Kierstensays
I posted the picture yesterday, but yeah, cats around the Kardashians simply isn't as awesome as cats replacing Kardashians.
Reply
Genevievesays
I made a cat christmas card using picmonkey the other day (just for fun though) - they would never wear santa outfits in real life, so photo editing tools are the way to go! I love the combo of broccoli with lemon, although I've never tried it with meyer lemons!
Reply
Kierstensays
Ha! I have a pair of antlers that my mom gave me and I try to get the cats to wear them, but no dice. 🙂
Reply
Annikasays
Tried it today. WONDERFUL. Really.
Reply
Kiersten Frasesays
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Reply
Noemiesays
Please try this... Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top of the broccoli when it's done. It's unbelievable.
Reply
Karlsays
This looks so fresh and with the lemon I’m sure it’s going to tingle the taste buds
The tender, fuzzy “tree” tips of roasted broccoli florets are the most delicious, but they are also quick to burn. Make sure the florets are well-coated with olive oil to keep this from happening. Don't Crowd the Pan. If the florets are too close, they will steam instead of roast.
After you wash your head of broccoli, make sure to dry it off before you toss it with the oil. A little moisture is ok, but if it's too wet when it goes in the oven, it won't get brown and crisp.
INSTRUCTIONS. Note: Using the lemon juice will turn the broccoli a little bit brown. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Cook the broccoli until it turns dark green, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Fast and easy way to get to roasty-toasty broccoli without being raw or dry. Toss it in a mixing bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, minced garlic (the jarred kind in water is best), and a bit of lemon juice. Spread in a single layer on a sheet pan and roast in the oven, 25 minutes or so at 350.
For the garlic, use smashed whole cloves instead of minced so it won't burn. Finally, roast in a moderate rather than hot oven so the vegetables have time to sweeten and caramelise evenly!
Some broccoli varieties are more bitter than others and bolt quicker, choose heat tolerant varieties or quick maturing varieties. Even if the head is small, pick your broccoli when the florets are tight, close together and bright green.
Roasted broccoli is a healthy side dish with major crowd appeal. Broccoli contains a lot of good-for-you fiber, vitamin C, and a surprising amount of protein, too. Who knew? If you've been in a rut with side dishes lately, or you're tired of steamed broccoli, you're going to love this simple side.
Nope, not those commercial produce washes; the USDA actually advises against using those. Instead, use a pantry staple: vinegar. Fill a large bowl with 2 ⅔ cups cold or warm water and ⅓ cup white vinegar. Allow it to soak for 2 minutes, then dump the broccoli into a colander.
“Our results suggest that after cutting broccoli florets into small pieces, they should be left for about 90 minutes before cooking,” the team concluded, adding that they didn't test it but thought “30 minutes would also be helpful.”⠀And other research supports this.
Cooking (Or Not Cooking) Broccoli To Protect Its Nutritional Riches : The Salt Cooking broccoli too long destroys the beneficial enzyme that breaks down chemicals into cancer fighters. The best way to eat it is raw or steamed for just two to three minutes, a nutrition expert says.
Lemon juice contains citric acid, the acidic "elements" of which, called hydrogen ions, alter the green pigment chlorophyll in broccoli to a grey-green derivative. This happens especially quickly if the vegetable is cooked in the presence of acid.
You can soak the broccoli in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or more to help it regain its firmness. Another method is to slice off a portion of the stem and place the remaining stem and crown in a pot with a cup of water. Store it in the fridge overnight, and the broccoli will be crisp and fresh in the morning.
That winning combination of slightly-charred, crispy buds in the same bite as those tender, caramelized little stems is quite simply broccoli at its best. I love serving roasted broccoli on its own as a simple side dish, or adding it to everything from pastas to quiches, tacos, pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, and more.
In this regards, it is likely that broccoli cooked by steaming will be better fit for human consumption than other cooking methods. In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking.
Steaming broccoli is quick and easy, and it's considered one of the healthiest ways to prepare the vegetable. Instead of submerging the florets and stem into boiling water or roasting them in the oven, the broccoli is placed in a steamer basket over simmering water and covered with a lid.
Swich tip: the smaller the vegetable pieces, the higher the oven temperature needs to be. This may sound counter-intuitive. But here's why: smaller vegetables take less time to cook throughout. On the other hand, harder and bigger vegetables are better cooked at 350-400 to prevent the vegetables from burning.
However, if cooked for too long, the water can evaporate and the broccoli can become dry enough to catch fire. Leaving the stem on - The thick stem of broccoli has less moisture than the florets. If left on while microwaving, the stem can heat up more quickly and reach a temperature where combustion occurs.
Maybe your oven heat is too high and your vegetables are burning before they are fully cooked through. In this case, reduce the temperature of your oven by 25-50 degrees and see if that helps. It's also possible that you may need a bit more oil on your veggies.
Use a High Temperature. The best temperature for roasting vegetables is 400 degrees F. If you have convection oven, use the bake setting and reduce to 375 degrees F.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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