And here we are at the second post-holiday appointment with healthier and lighter dishes without sacrificing taste! For lovers of innovative recipes, for those looking for fit, vegetarian, keto, or gluten-free solutions, I propose this truly unusual, tasty, and easy side dish! Moreover, it is also quite quick, but I assure you that you have never tasted broccoli like this! As you know, broccoli is a real concentrate of virtues, boasting an incredible wealth of nutrients, from fibers to vitamins, as well as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying properties! That’s why, always finding different ways and possible combinations to consume them weekly is a good habit to take care of our body! In this recipe, they are slightly blanched, then smashed with the help of a glass, seasoned, and brushed with an easy-to-prepare dressing in a jar made of oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a few other ingredients. Finally, they are sprinkled on the surface with grated Parmesan before being put in the oven. Their flavor will win over everyone, young and old alike! With this recipe, you’ll bring to the table not only a perfect side dish to accompany all your meat and fish main courses but also a perfect healthy and tasty snack for an informal aperitif, perhaps paired with some barbecue sauce or yogurt as I did! A particular yet very simple recipe that transforms each broccoli floret into an explosion of flavors on the palate that you absolutely must try!

If you like playing with vegetables, try these other super original and tasty proposals:

Difficulty: Very easy
Cost: Very cheap
Preparation time: 15 Minutes
Portions: 2-3 people
Cooking methods: Boiling, Electric oven
Cuisine: Italian
Seasonality: Autumn, Winter

Ingredients:

1 broccoli
1 pinch salt
1.76 oz grated Parmesan
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp mustard
1 pinch garlic powder
1/2 tsp sweet paprika
1 pinch salt
to taste black pepper

Tools:

⚠ THIS RECIPE CONTAINS ONE OR MORE AFFILIATE LINKS. The products I recommend are the same ones I use in my recipes; purchasing them through my blog only helps support me and my work, and it won’t cost you anything extra!

1 Knife
1 Cutting board
1 Pot
1 Slotted spoon
1 Jar
1 Glass
1 Parchment paper
1 Brush
1 Baking tray

Steps:

Clean the broccoli head, breaking it into florets and removing the outer skins, and wash them under running water.
Blanch the florets in lightly salted water for 5 minutes.
Drain them with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then smash them one by one with the help of a glass.
Now prepare the dressing by mixing in a jar the oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, and mustard, then adjust with salt and pepper.
Close the jar, shake it until well mixed, and use it to brush all the broccoli thoroughly.
Sprinkle the surface with plenty of Parmesan and bake at 392°F (200°C) for 15 minutes or until the edges of the broccoli appear golden and the cheese is completely melted.
Once ready, serve them immediately while still hot!
And voilà…your oven-baked smashed broccoli with Parmesan crust is ready to enjoy!
Bon Appétit from La Cucina di FeFè!