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Enjoy the delicious combination of tender broccoli and a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze with this Balsamic Vinegar Broccoli recipe. Fresh broccoli florets are tossed in a mixture of olive oil, minced garlic, and sliced shallots. It's a simple, healthy, and delicious side that is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a fancy dinner party.
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Check out my Broccoli Salad and my Chicken Broccoli Casserole for more delicious broccoli recipes!
This recipe is a simple and flavorful way to prepare broccoli with a touch of balsamic vinegar. The balsamic vinegar broccoli is finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, adding a rich, salty flavor to balance the sweetness of the balsamic glaze. It's a delicious and healthy side dish that can be paired with a variety of main courses, from grilled meats to roasted fish.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious and healthy side dish ready in no time.
- Healthy and nutritious. Broccoli is packed with vitamins and nutrients, making this recipe a great choice for a healthy meal.
- Flavorful and satisfying. The combination of broccoli, balsamic glaze, and parmesan cheese creates a delicious and satisfying dish that will leave you feeling full and satisfied.
- Versatile. This dish can be paired with a variety of main courses making it a great choice for any meal.
- A crowd-pleaser. It's sure to be a hit with everyone, whether you're serving this dish at a dinner party or a family meal.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and moisture to the dish, helping the broccoli to cook evenly and develop a slightly crispy exterior.
- Broccoli Florets: The main ingredient, providing a base of crunchy, nutritious, and tasty green florets.
- Shallot: Adds a mild, sweet onion flavor to the dish, complementing the garlic and adding depth of flavor.
- Minced Garlic: Enhances the flavor of the dish.
- White Balsamic Vinegar: Creates a sweet and tangy glaze that brings together all the flavors of the dish.
- Salt: Brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients and helps to balance the sweetness of the balsamic glaze.
- Ground Pepper: Adds a subtle spiciness to the dish and helps to cut through the richness of the olive oil and cheese.
- Parmesan Cheese: Provides a rich, salty flavor that balances the sweetness of the balsamic glaze and adds a creamy texture to the dish.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1:
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook while continuously stirring until it starts to brown in spots, about 5 minutes.
Step 2:
Reduce heat to medium. Push broccoli to the side of the skillet. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil, shallot, garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring continuously until broccoli is soft, about 3 more minutes.
Step 3:
Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Cut the broccoli into even-sized florets. This will help the broccoli to cook evenly and ensure that each bite has the perfect combination of tender and crispy.
- Experiment with different types of cheese. While parmesan cheese is a classic pairing with balsamic broccoli, you can also try using other types of cheese, such as pecorino Romano or asiago, to add a different flavor profile to the dish.
- Serve the dish immediately. Enjoy while it's hot and fresh.
Variations
- Add other vegetables: Mix in other vegetables, such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, or cauliflower, to create a mixed veggie dish.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of chili powder for a little extra heat.
- Add nuts: Sprinkle some toasted almonds, walnuts, or pine nuts over the broccoli for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
- Use a different type of vinegar: Instead of white balsamic vinegar, you can try using apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or sherry vinegar to create a different flavor profile.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet and heat in a 350 degrees F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
Freezing: Let the broccoli cool to room temperature. Transfer the broccoli to a freezer-safe container or zip-top plastic bag, pressing out as much air as possible. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, place the frozen broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet and heat in a 400 degrees F oven for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use frozen broccoli for this recipe. However, the cooking time may need to be adjusted slightly.
Yes, you can use dark balsamic vinegar instead of white balsamic vinegar. However, keep in mind that dark balsamic vinegar has a stronger and sweeter flavor, so you may need to adjust the amount used.
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Balsamic Vinegar Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 6 cups broccoli florets 12 ounces
- 1 small shallot peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook while continuously stirring until it starts to brown in spots, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium. Push broccoli to the side of the skillet. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil, shallot, garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring continuously until broccoli is soft, about 3 more minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle broccoli with parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Cut the broccoli into even-sized florets. This will help the broccoli to cook evenly and ensure that each bite has the perfect combination of tender and crispy.
- Experiment with different types of cheese. While parmesan cheese is a classic pairing with balsamic broccoli, you can also try using other types of cheese, such as pecorino Romano or asiago, to add a different flavor profile to the dish.
- Serve the dish immediately. It's best enjoyed when hot and fresh, so be sure to serve immediately after preparing it.
- Storing: Store leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet and heat in a 350 degrees F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Freezing: Let the broccoli cool to room temperature. Transfer the broccoli to a freezer-safe container or zip-top plastic bag, pressing out as much air as possible. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, place the frozen broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet and heat in a 400°F oven for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Andrea Metlika
What a flavorful and healthy side dish. Perfect for any meal.
Kushigalu
Love broccoli but never tried it this way. Sounds so flavorful. Pinned.
Jenn
I love the flavors of balsamic and Parmesan together but I've never paired them with broccoli! I'm going to make this for dinner this week! Thanks for the recipe!
Valerie
Broccoli and cheese are perfect together. I love how simple this is, it could go with so many things.
Emily Flint
We eat a lot of broccoli in our house and I love your flavor combo! So Yummy!