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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.
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. Drain and put the broccoli in ice water to prevent it from cooking.
The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.
Chinese restaurants often incorporate garlic, ginger, and soy sauce to add depth and flavor to the broccoli. You can also add a dash of sesame oil or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for an added kick.
Why is Broccoli Bitter? Broccoli contains several compounds which some people perceive as bitter. Proper growing, storage, and cooking can replace that bitter flavor with an earthy, almost sweet taste. Broccoli is best grown when the temperatures are cool and there is less sunlight.
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.
The next time you roast vegetables, add some cornstarch. Yes, cornstarch—that box in your pantry is the secret to a super-crispy exterior on veggies, from potatoes to cauliflower. Cornstarch is commonly used to coat proteins like chicken or beef to achieve a crispy exterior, so why not use it with vegetables?
Similar to boiling lemons or making stovetop potpourri, vinegar steam is a great way to neutralize potent smells. Add half a cup of vinegar to one cup of water and simmer on the stove while you cook (or after) to absorb any smells in the air.
Cooking broccoli in this way retains most of its colour, nutritional value along with that crunch that results in a delicious side dish that even my youngest and pickiest eater enjoys. Boiling or over-cooking the broccoli florets turns the texture into mush and also draw away much of its cancer-fighting goodness.
When introduced to too much heat for too long, lemon can easily turn bitter and even discolor other ingredients being cooked with it. The best time to add lemon to something cooking is after you remove it from the high heat, or when it's cooking at a lower temperature.
Serving broccoli raw is an excellent option, since it retains these nutrients and the enzyme that forms isothiocyanate compounds. Before serving on a relish tray or salad, quickly blanching and cooling allows you to get even a bit more of these compounds.
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.
Many restaurants roast or pan-fry their vegetable side dishes in bacon, butter, or other animal fat – or a mixture of these. Why? Because it makes veggies taste richer, more flavorful, and saltier than they would if you cooked them at home, which encourages you and other customers to keep coming back for more.
Why are a restaurant's roasted vegetables so much tastier than homemade ones? The simple answer to why roasted vegetables from a restaurant taste so good: lots of fat and salt and high heat.
Use one teaspoon salt per 1 cup of water. Salt provides a “barrier” against carbon dioxide, which prevents chlorophyll from changing color. Make sure that you have enough water in your pot so that all of the broccoli is floating in it.
Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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