Charred Broccoli Salad (Print)

Smoky roasted broccoli tossed with lemon, garlic, Parmesan, and toasted nuts for a fresh, flavorful dish.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli (about 1.1 pounds), cut into florets
02 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Dressing

03 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
05 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
06 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

08 - 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese (about 1.4 ounces)
09 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (optional)
10 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F or air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Toss broccoli florets with 2 tablespoons olive oil, half the lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
03 - Spread broccoli on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Roast or air-fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until edges are charred and broccoli is tender.
04 - During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add sliced red onion to the tray or basket if using.
05 - In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, and remaining lemon zest.
06 - Add hot charred broccoli and onions, if included, to the bowl. Toss well to coat evenly with dressing.
07 - Transfer to a serving platter. Top with shaved Parmesan, toasted nuts, and chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The charring gives broccoli an almost smoky depth that makes people actually excited to eat their vegetables.
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes and works equally well warm, room temperature, or even cold the next day.
  • The whole thing is naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it slides into almost any meal without fuss.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the pan—it's tempting to pile everything on one sheet, but broccoli needs space to actually char instead of steam itself into submission.
  • The dressing needs to be made while the broccoli is hot so the warm florets absorb all that lemon and garlic flavor instead of sitting on top of it.
03 -
  • If using an air fryer, you'll likely need less time—start checking around 10 minutes and adjust based on your machine.
  • Make the dressing first thing so the garlic has time to soften and mellow in the oil before the hot broccoli joins the party.
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