Easy Sautéed Broccoli
- PREP 10min
- COOK 10min
- TOTAL 20min
I love this simple sautéed broccoli recipe. Everything happens on the stovetop in a skillet. There’s a hint of garlic, and I especially love swirling in a little bit of butter right at the end. The butter lightly coats the sautéed florets and stems, which makes this dish so easy to keep eating.
You Will Need
1 pound broccoli (450g)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
2 to 3 lemon wedges
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions
1Prepare the broccoli: Separate the broccoli crown from the main stalk. Use a pairing knife to cut the crown into small, bite-sized florets, about 1 ½ inches long. Then, use a vegetable peeler to peel away the tough outer layer of the thicker stems. Cut the peeled stems into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch long. Keep the florets and stems separated in two piles.
2Brown the broccoli: Heat a wide skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil, then add the broccoli stems in one layer. Lightly season with salt and pepper, then leave them to brown on one side, about 2 minutes. Stir, then add the florets, another light pinch of salt and pepper, and spread them into a single layer in the skillet. Allow them to cook until they begin to brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes.
3Add the garlic and water: Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then pour in ¼ cup of water. Stir, then cover the skillet with a lid (or use a small baking sheet placed on top to act as a lid). Cook until the broccoli is vibrant green and tender, about 3 minutes. Keeping the heat around medium should be fine, but reduce the heat a bit more if you notice that the broccoli is taking on too much color.
4Stir in butter and lemon: Uncover the skillet, turn off the heat, then toss in the butter and the juice from 2 to 3 lemon wedges.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Quickly reheat in a skillet to get a little texture back.
- Add some cheese. When we asked our readers about their favorite ingredients to serve with broccoli, three were repeated so many times over. Garlic, lemon, and parmesan cheese. In our recipe above, we include the garlic and lemon, but if you want to go for the trio, use a microplane to finely grate lots of parmesan cheese over your broccoli right before serving.
- The nutrition facts are estimates.