Broccoli with Garlic Oil and Red Pepper
Even broccoli haters love this dish
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 3 pounds,
broccoli
- 1/4 cup,
il Fustino extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon,
red pepper flakes
- 4 cloves,
garlic
-
cut in half
- 2 teaspoons,
kosher salt
- fresh ground black pepper
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Method
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Remove stalks from broccoli leaving about one inch below the last branches
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Trim into long pieces by cutting down from the flowerettes. You want a bit of the flowerette and a bit of the stalk in each piece
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In a large pot or sauce pan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
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Add broccoli and blanch until all pieces have turned bright green
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Blanch for 2 or 3 more minutes, then pour into a colander and let drain
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Return pan to medium high heat. Make sure the pan is dry
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Add olive oil. When it starts to shimmer carefully add garlic
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Tilt pan over heat to create a deep oil pocket and let the garlic fry in that for 2 or 3 minutes until the cloves are golden brown
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Carefully remove garlic with a slotted spoon. You now have a beautiful garlic oil
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You may stop here until you are ready to serve
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Bring garlic oil back to temperature over medium high heat
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Carefully add broccoli to oil. If it is still wet it will spatter
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Move broccoli around in the frying oil as it cooks
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Add red pepper flakes and several good grinds of fresh ground black pepper
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Cook broccoli until it begins to pick up a browned color. At this point you want to try some to see if it is done. You want it to be al dente. Add a bit of salt and more pepper if necessary. Toss and serve
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Browning is a result of the something called the Maillard Reaction. It, along with the garlic flavor, makes this broccoli something special.