Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (2024)

/ Updated Sep 20, 2021 / by Carolyn Gratzer Cope / 2 Comments / This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more.

Jump to Recipe

This easy broccolini recipe with gremolata will brighten up your plate and your palate. It's special enough to serve as a holiday side dish, but it also makes a great weeknight dinner with a poached egg or some white beans on top.

Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (1)

Why we love this recipe

With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, this recipe packs a flavor punch. Gremolata is an Italian condiment traditionally made from parsley, lemon zest, and garlic. It's often called a "sauce," but it's more like a savory sprinkle.

Our broccolini recipe with gremolata is:

  • Vibrant and flavorful
  • Quick and easy enough for a weeknight
  • Special enough for a holiday
  • A vegan nutritional powerhouse, but you'll hardly notice

What you'll need

Here's a glance at what you'll need to make this broccolini recipe. It's not much!

Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (2)
  • Broccoliniis a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli, with long, crisp-tender stems and delicate florets. It’s mildly flavored and an absolute dream to cook with.
  • I've pictured curly parsley here because that's what we got in our farm box, but I prefer to make this recipe with flat-leaf Italian parsley. (That said, it's very flexible —so use what you've got.)
  • A good-quality olive oil is nice here, since you won't be cooking with it, and the flavors will come through. The olive oil is not part of the sauce, but drizzling a little bit on top (along with some lemon juice) really rounds out the dish.

How to make it

Here's all you need to do to make this easy broccolini recipe with gremolata. You can see all the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get the full instructions in the recipe card below.

Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (3)
  1. First you'll cook the broccolini until crisp-tender. If you like, you can shock it in a bowl of ice water for a minute after cooking. This helps preserve the bright green color.
  2. Finely chop the parsley.
  3. Use a microplane to grate lemon zest and garlic onto the parsley, then mix it all together.
  4. Spoon the gremolata over the broccolini and serve. That's it!

Expert tips and FAQs

What is broccolini?

It's a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli. This is a powerhouse combination. It's got long stems that easily cook up to crisp-tender, along with delicate florets. The flavor is mild and wonderful.

What is gremolata?

It often gets called a sauce, but really it's more of a savory sprinkle. This Italian condiment is traditionally made from finely chopped parsley, grated lemon zest, and garlic. It's uncooked, so it's bright, fresh, and vibrant.

Can I make this recipe in advance?

Yes! It's great served hot or at room temperature, so you can easily make it earlier in the day on serving day.

What can I do with leftover gremolata?

It's best on the day it's made, but you can store leftovers tightly sealed in the fridge and use them the next day. This is one flexible condiment. It's great on: lamb, fish, chicken, steak, eggs, beans, tomatoes...you name it.

What is the difference between chimichurri and gremolata?

Chimichurri is another great herb-heavy condiment for protein and veggies. It's richer, with olive oil as its base, and tends to include vinegar and oregano, too. Gremolata is drier and features lemon rather than vinegar. Chimichurri originates in Argentina and Uruguay, while gremolata is Italian.

How to serve it

This recipe makes an excellent side dish at the holidays or on a weeknight. Or turn it into a complete meal by adding:

  • Canned white beans
  • A poached or fried egg
  • Some leftover chicken or steak

More great recipes

  • Got broccolini? Make this frittata or this bowl.
  • Looking for flexible veggie side dishes that are special enough for a holiday? A few other favorites are green beans, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower.

Hungry for more?

Subscribe to Umami Girl's email updates, and follow along on Instagram.

Yield: 4

Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata

Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (4)

This simple, vibrant, and flavorful recipe works equally well as a holiday side dish and a simple dinner (just add a poached egg or some white beans). A microplane makes quick work of the garlic and lemon zest.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccolini, ends trimmed
  • 1 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 medium garlic clove, peeled
  • 2 lemons
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
  • Flaky sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In abraiseror12-inch lidded pan, bring ½-inch of water to a boil with a good pinch of salt. Add broccolini and cook until tender but crisp and vibrant green, about 5 minutes. Drain and plunge into a bowl of ice water if you like to stop cooking and preserve bright color. (You don't have to do this, but it's a cool and reliable trick.) Arrange broccolini on a platter.
  2. While the broccolini cooks, finely chop the parsley. Using a microplane, grate the garlic and then the zest of both lemons onto the parsley. Sprinkle ⅛ teaspoon salt overtop and then mix it all together well.
  3. Spoon gremolata over broccolini, drizzle with olive oil and the juice from ½ a lemon and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. Gremolata is a flexible recipe. Once you get to know it, you can substitute other herbs or citrus if you like.
  2. Gremolata is best used on the day it's made, but you can store leftovers tightly sealed in the fridge to use the next day if you like. It's great on lamb, fish, chicken, beans, steak — you name it.
  3. This recipe is great hot or at room temperature. You can make it earlier in the day if you like.
  4. Leftover broccolini can be stored tightly sealed in the fridge for up to a a week.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 106Total Fat: 4.4gCarbohydrates: 18.6gFiber: 6.4gProtein: 4.9g

Did you make this recipe?

I'd love to see! Follow @umamigirl on Instagram, tag us, and use the hashtag #umamigirl. I'll reshare my favorites.

Hungry for more?

Subscribe to Umami Girl's email updates, and follow along on Instagram.

More Sides

  • Easy Raita Recipe
  • Restaurant-style Palak Paneer
  • Marsala Mushrooms
  • Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad with Jicama
Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (10)

About Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Hi there, I'm Carolyn Gratzer Cope, founder and publisher of Umami Girl. Join me in savoring life, one recipe at a time. I'm a professional recipe developer with training from the French Culinary Institute (now ICE) and a lifetime of studying, appreciating, and sharing food. More about me.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Easy Broccolini Recipe with Gremolata (2024)

FAQs

What goes with gremolata? ›

Use gremolata wherever you'd normally use pesto or any of its cousin green sauces: Spoon this zesty condiment over simply seared fish, white bean stew, or bowls of risotto, topped with plenty of Parmesan. Swoop it over hummus or salted Greek yogurt to make an impromptu dip.

How do you eat broccolini? ›

Broccolini can be eaten raw or cooked, though most people enjoy it cooked as a side dish. The whole vegetable is edible. Common cooking methods for broccolini include steaming, stir-frying, roasting, and sauteing. Steamed broccolini is usually served on its own.

What does gremolata mean in English? ›

Meaning of gremolata in English

a mixture of parsley, garlic, and lemon, eaten in small amounts with meat or fish: Italians often finish stews with a scattering of gremolata.

What is gremolata sauce made of? ›

Gremolata is an Italian condiment made of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. Sprinkle it over pasta, veggies, and more for a burst of fresh, bright flavor! A sprinkle of parsley is one of my favorite ways to finish a dish, adding freshness and an appealing fleck of green.

Are you supposed to eat the stems of broccolini? ›

The best way to experience the health benefits of broccolini is to eat it raw. The stems, leaves, and florets are all edible. You can also choose to steam your broccolini and serve it as a side to complete a tasty, nutritious meal.

Should you cut the stems off broccolini? ›

Broccolini has long, thin stalks that, unlike mature broccoli stalks, are tender all the way through. That means that you can eat the stems right along with the florets.

Do I need to wash broccolini? ›

How to Trim and Cut Broccolini
  1. Wash your broccolini. A few seconds under the faucet is usually sufficient to clean away any residual dirt on the bunches of broccolini. ...
  2. Trim the stems. The bottom inch or two of broccolini stems are tough, so use a sharp knife to trim them before cooking.
  3. Cut your broccolini.
Jan 25, 2022

Is broccolini healthier than broccoli? ›

The verdict. Broccolini – by a hair's breadth! Nutritionally, the two brassicas are very similar. But the excellent vitamin A content of broccolini, together with the fact that it needs less prep and there's no waste, gives it the edge over broccoli for us.

Why is broccolini so much better than broccoli? ›

It contains compounds like sulforaphane that are responsible for many of its health benefits, especially its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Eating broccolini may also support heart health and blood sugar control. Compared to broccoli, broccolini tastes sweeter, with a mild flavor and more delicate texture.

Do you cook broccolini different than broccoli? ›

Broccolini have long, firm stalks and leafy florets with small leaves. Broccolini tastes milder and sweeter than broccoli. Because its stalks are thinner, broccolini require less prep work than broccoli (which tend to have woodier stalks). Broccolini lends itself to roasting, grilling, sauteing and steaming.

What's the difference between chimichurri and gremolata? ›

While gremolata only further mixes in a citrus zest for a bitter note, in a chimichurri, acid is a central component. Whether it's vinegar or citrus, this tang cuts through smokey and meat flavors and lends chimichurri its status as the perfect grilling accompaniment.

What are some condiments for dinner? ›

Ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce are staples, but you can spice things up with chutney, aioli, and honey dill sauce. Condiments that are popular in some Asian cuisines, like oyster sauce and teriyaki sauce, can add flavor to any meal.

What is Milanese gremolata? ›

​Click to purchase Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil. Gremolata is a traditional Italian herb condiment consisting of fresh lemon zest, minced garlic, Italian flat leaf parsley & a hint of mint. The herbs and citrus zest are typically crushed together in a mortar to release their pungent essential oils.

What goes well with Italian herbs? ›

One of the most aromatic herbs in Italian cuisine is sage. You can use it on pasta, risotto, roasted potatoes, lasagna, chicken, and fatty meats. Fresh sage pairs with fresh homemade cheese, pastries, marinades, and even fresh compound butter.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 6231

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.