Grilled Broccoli with Garlic Roasted Red Pepper Sauce - another delightful way to eat your broccoli. A delicious combination of roasted red pepper, garlic and almonds, smoky and spicy paprika, tomatoes and slightly charred broccoli. YUM!
I’m really passionate about making veggies taste delicious. Whether that’s a fun take on a salad or just new ways to whip up old favorites like Roasted Cauliflower and Chick Peas with Yogurt Sauce or Roasted Parmesan Broccoli. Regardless, there are a few things I firmly believe... all vegetables should taste good and I’m all about making that happen - one recipe at a time! Oh and world peace - of course.☮️
There are several reasons some vegetables get a bad wrap: one, because they aren’t seasoned properly; and two, they’re cooked too long and become bitter or even slimy? Whoa? Yes – it’s so true. Have you ever over-cooked asparagus or eggplant? You would know if you had - Slimefest 2016 I tell ya!
A few weeks ago we were out to dinner enjoying tapas with some friends who are vegans. We are don’t like to discriminate when it comes to food, so we ourselves are omnivores. This is partly because the B man has a crazy fast metabolism and needs an insane amount of protein… and partly because we just simply enjoy a nice grilled lamb chop or Grilled Rosemary Lemon Chicken Thigh now and then.
But I must admit our friends’ menu choices that night influenced us to seek out more veggie options. I kept seeing all these beautiful veggie-filled tapas arrive at our table. They were all so brightly colored and beautifully presented.✨
Now don’t get me wrong. I have a fierce appreciation for - and absolutely love - vegetables! So much that as a teenager, I would go down to my family’s canning shelves in the basement, grab a pint of lima beans, sauté them with some butter and salt and devour! Heaven on earth for sure!
I’m so easily distracted by the thought of good food!! Back to stuffing our faces with tapas…
One of the inspirational vegetable tapas we tried that evening was Charred Broccoli with Romesco Sauce. OMG Yumalicious!! The broccoli had this slight blackening on the edges of the florets and this amazing grilled smoky flavor. The sauce was garlicky, with some red pepper, tomatoes, almonds and just a bit of spicy heat. It was probably my favorite tapa of the night – and there was zero meat involved (I don't even know myself anymore).
It’s probably because broccoli contains protein – yep not even kidding. There are 3 grams of protein in 100 grams (about ⅓ cup) of broccoli. How cool is that?
Not only that but broccoli is full of many other perks! According to our friends at the nutrition website Well-Being Secrets, there are at least 43 Science-Backed Health Benefits Of Broccoli. Here are some of my faves:
- Broccoli contains more vitamin C than in Citrus fruits.
- Broccoli has more vitamin E than olive oil.
- Broccoli is rich in cancer fighting compounds.
- Broccoli is the best known source of Folate/VitaminB9.
- Broccoli boosts the immune system w/ high levels of Vitamin B1, B2 & B6.
- Broccoli contains absolutely no sugar or fat.
Ya’ll, I was so inspired by this delicious goodness that I came home and went to work researching, chopping, mincing and grilling. And whoomp there it is… Grilled Broccoli with Garlic Roasted Red Pepper Sauce!
I absolutely LOVE this new recipe! First reason: I don’t have to heat up my stove to make it… second reason: it brings variety to my veggie line up … and third reason: because it’s ridiculously good.
I have to come clean with you. The night I created it B was out to dinner with a friend and I actually ate this grilled broccoli yumminess as my entire dinner. That’s right - sans meat. I don’t know what to tell you other than: it’s super satisfying and I think it’s gonna be your new favorite veggie side dish.
Let me share my process with you…
First I cut my red peppers in half and removed the seed and veins. I smashed my garlic and removed the skin. Then grilled the garlic in a tin foil boat for 1-2 minutes a side as well as the peppers for 4-5 minutes a side, placed them both in a bowl covered with plastic wrap.
Next I grilled the broccoli on 400 degrees for 13 minutes (turning it every few minutes) making sure it wasn’t over a direct flame to avoid over charring.
Then I whipped up my Garlic Red Pepper Sauce. I minced the garlic, removed the skin from the red peppers. Then added them to the food processor along with the toasted almonds and bread, tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, smoked salt, hot paprika and smoked paprika. While processing the ingredients I added a 1-2 tablespoons of water until it became a smooth consistency.
I could literally eat the sauce with a spoon all by itself. It’s smoky and earthy with a little bit of a kick from the hot paprika. The broccoli is slightly charred, still a bit al dente, and pairs wonderfully with this garlic red pepper sauce!
Grilled Broccoli with Garlic Roasted Red Pepper Sauce - yet another reason to leave your oven turned off this summer!✨
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Grilled Broccoli with Garlic Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Recipe
The perfect combo of roasted red pepper, garlic, almonds, paprika, tomatoes & slightly charred broccoli!
Ingredients
- 2 small heads of broccoli, ends trimmed but still stems intact, cut into florets
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- 5 ounces roasted cherry tomatoes, or 2.5 ounces sun dried tomatoes, (see note)
- 3 cloves garlic
- ½ cup whole roasted almonds, (2.5 ounces)
- 1 ½ teaspoons hot Hungarian paprika, (can substitute with ¼ cayenne)
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked salt
- ½ cup crusty bread, (2 ounces, see note)
- 1 red pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
- Canola oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Rinse broccoli and cut apart florets.
- Slice pepper in half and remove seeds and veins.
- Create a small tin foil “boat” to roast garlic on the grill.
- Heat grill to 450-500 degrees. Place fresh garlic (skin removed) in the tin foil and roast on the grill for 2-3 minutes (don’t allow it to burn).
- Spray the pepper with canola spray, and grill until the skin is nicely charred, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Place garlic and peppers in a medium bowl and cover with foil.
- Once the peppers are cool enough to handle, remove the skin from the pepper.
- In food processor, combine roasted cherry tomatoes, almonds, both types of paprika, salt, bread, sherry vinegar, roasted garlic, roasted red peppers, and ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil. Process until ingredients are well-combined, adding 1-2 tablespoons water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
- Turn the grill down to 400 degrees, and spray the broccoli with cooking spray.
- Grill the broccoli on indirect heat for about 13-15 minutes. Closely monitor the broccoli and rotate every 2-3 minutes so that it has only the smallest hint of charring.
- Serve immediately, topped with the Garlic Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
Notes
For the cherry tomatoes, I normally roast my own cherry tomatoes at the end of the growing season, and freeze them in batches to be used for recipes like this. Assuming you don’t have some in your freezer, you can either roast store bought cherry tomatoes prior to starting this recipe from Tyler Florence, you can find them sold in jars already roasted.
For the crusty bread, either leave the bread sitting out a day or two in advance, or simply toast it in a toaster oven until it is nice and crisp – but not burnt!
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
5 ouncesAmount Per Serving Calories 250Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 0gSodium 486mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 7gSugar 5gProtein 9g
Looking for more amazing broccoli recipes? You have to try this Roasted Parmesan Broccoli!
AZ@...And a Dash of Cinnamon
Well I love roasting broccoli....and I love grilled veggies so I'm pretty sure I would love this haha
holly
Yes - pretty much any way you cook it - it's delicious!