Best Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli Recipe

Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli is here to break you free from the broccoli blues! Also known as broccolini, this healthy vegetable gets crispy, crunchy florets when roasted in the oven with only olive oil, garlic powder and Kosher salt. This simple recipe for roasted broccolini will be your favourite side dish for suppers!

Learning how to cook Tenderstem® broccoli - also known as "broccolini" - is a great way to get major nutrition into you in a very delicious way😋

Who does love some regular roasted broccoli? And using broccolini instead for your roasted green vegetable side dish changes things up - in a great way!

Tenderstem® broccoli is the brand name given to broccolini. Broccolini is a a cruciferous vegetable. It's sometimes referred to as "baby broccoli".

Because well, it kinda looks like broccoli before it grows up! Think of broccolini like the younger sibling of full-grown broccoli🥦

Broccolini has long, thin stems and small bunches of tender broccoli crowns at the top.

Jump to:

• 🥦Ingredients for roasted broccolini
• 🔪How to Cook Tenderstem Broccoli
• 🥦Air Fryer Roasted Broccolini
• 💃Variations
• 🥣Equipment
• 🥡Storage and Leftovers
• 🔪Do you cut the stems of broccolini?
• 🥦Is Broccolini better raw or cooked?
• 🙋‍♀️Do you leave the leaves on the broccolini?
• 🍴Can you eat the ends of the broccolini?
• 🍽️What to serve with roasted broccolini
• 🥦What's the difference between Tenderstem broccoli and broccoli?
• 🥦Are Tenderstem broccoli and broccolini the same thing?
• 🏅Top tip
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

🥦Broccolini is a hybrid broccoli because it's a combination of broccoli and Chinese kale. This is one of the main differences from broccoli with its sturdier, thick stems and larger, tightly-packed crowns of broccoli florets🥦

Love all things broccoli?

Here's a great guide on How to Boil Broccoli {the RIGHT way} and some recipes featuring broccoli.

Wherever you see broccoli, broccolini can fit the bill too🤑

🥦Ingredients for roasted broccolini

All you'll need for this easy and yummy healthy side dish recipe is here:

• Tenderstem® broccoli - also know as "broccolini"
• Garlic powder
• Kosher Salt
• Olive oil
• Lemon - optional, for serving

See recipe card for quantities.

🔪How to Cook Tenderstem Broccoli

See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.

🥦Air Fryer Roasted Broccolini

To make this roasted broccolini recipe in the air fryer, toss the broccolini with the olive oil, garlic powder and salt.

Depending on the type of air fryer you have, roast as follows:

• If you have the small oven type air fryer, place on a tinfoil lined pan. Roast in the air fryer at 425F for about 8-11 minutes. Check them at about 7 minutes. For crispier tops, roast on the longer side (11 - 12 minutes).
• If you have a basket-style air fryer, place the broccolini in the basket. They can be stacked but don't stuff it full because the air needs to get around the stems of the broccolini. Roast for about 8-10 minutes at 425F. Check the broccolini and give the basket a shake around the 5 minute mark.

💃Variations

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free.

If you're looking for ways to change up the flavourings, here's a few options:

• 🔥Spicy - before roasting, sprinkle some dried chili flakes overtop of the broccolini
• 🍋 Bright - add a kick of acid with a squirt of fresh lemon juice overtop the broccolini once it's done roasting
• 🤤 Flavourful - punch up the spices with a little cumin, coriander and turmeric!

🥣Equipment

All you need is a cookie sheet or large baking tray, covered in parchment paper, a reusable baking mat or tinfoil.

🥡Storage and Leftovers

Store leftover roasted broccolini in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Re-heat in the microwave. Or, to bring back some of those crispy edges, re-heat the broccolini in the air fryer for a few minutes.

🔪Do you cut the stems of broccolini?

No, you don't have to cut off the stems of broccolini. You can eat them too! What's great about broccolini is that you can eat the whole thing. And why not? Broccolini is packed with nutrition! It's provides a source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K. Also, broccolini brings a decent dose of fiber and some essential minerals like potassium and iron.

🥦Is Broccolini better raw or cooked?

What's great is that broccolini tastes great raw or cooked.

If you're into crunch and the freshest flavors, go for raw broccolini. It's got a bit of a milder taste compared to regular broccoli, and the stems are tender enough to enjoy without cooking. Just chop it up and toss it into salads, slaws, or even as a crunchy snack with some dip.

As for cooked broccolini, there are soooo many ways you can cook it. Broccolini is very versatile and can be steamed, roasted, sautéd, air fried or even BBQ'd!

Plus, cooking can mellow out the bitterness a tad and bring out a slightly sweet flavor.

🙋‍♀️Do you leave the leaves on the broccolini?

You can leave those small, tender leaves on the broccolini stems and eat them too! Think of them like a salad leaf - spinach or other greens. If you roast the broccolini, these little leaves become nice and crispy. And if you stir-fry the broccolini, chop the stems, leaves and florets into pieces and stir-fry every part of this nutritious vegetable up!

🍴Can you eat the ends of the broccolini?

Yes you can absolutely eat the ends of broccolini! Do not throw out broccolini stems - they're packed with nutrition. The tender stems of broccolini can be eaten raw or cooked. You can chop them up and put them into a salad, dip them into a healthy vegetable dip, stir-fry or steam them!

🍽️What to serve with roasted broccolini

An easy way to make a complete, healthy meal when you start with roasted broccolini is adding a protein of some sort (like chicken or beef for example) and a carbohydrate (like potatoes, rice or quinoa.)

For example, you can serve this roasted broccolini with:

• Cast Iron Skillet Whole Roasted chicken and basmati rice
• A piece of Cast Iron Skillet Salmon with quinoa or,
• Go for a burger (protein + carb)! Try my fave: The BEST Cast Iron Skillet Burgers (EASY RECIPE)

🥦What's the difference between Tenderstem broccoli and broccoli?

Tenderstem® broccoli is actually the brand name given to broccolini in the UK. You might see this cruciferous vegetable also labeled as broccolini or even "baby broccoli" in your local grocery store. As the name suggests, Tenderstem® broccoli has well, a "tender stem".

The stem part of Tenderstem® broccoli is much thinner than the big, stocky stems on regular broccoli. This means when you're cooking Tenderstem® broccoli, you can include the the whole vegetable - stems and all. Whereas with broccoli, you'd typically cut the very bottom of the stem off.

For the most part though, when you're roasting broccoli, DO slice up that thick stem. It roasts beautifully.

Check out this recipe for Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan Cheese and use those broccoli stems up!

🥦Are Tenderstem broccoli and broccolini the same thing?

Tenderstem® broccoli and broccolini are the same vegetable. Tenderstem® broccoli is a brand name that was given to broccolini. But they're the same vegetable. It was actually first produced in Japan 1993. It's a hybrid combination of regular broccoli and Chinese kale.

Anywhere you want to use broccoli, you can use Tenderstem® broccoli or broccolini.

Hope you fall in love with broccolini, aka Tenderstem broccoli, after trying out this recipe like we did❣️

~April

PS Guys. Two words: Broccolini PIZZA🍕

📖 Recipe