Tuscan Roasted Broccoli is a worthy holiday vegetable side dish.
Throughout the year I try new side dishes looking for the “wow” factor, something worthy of Thanksgiving or any holiday dinner.
Turkey, homemade egg noodles, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and pumpkin dream pie are sacrosanct, but when it comes to the vegetable sides, I can slip in something new.
When friends brought a version of this Tuscan Roasted Broccoli as a side dish for grilled steaks, I knew we had a winner.
This vegetable side dish got our attention because it made the steaks better.
Rich, sumptuous meals benefit from a balance of bitter, slightly sour, or lighter textures to cleanse and refresh the palate.
A bit of lemon and Parmesan does its job deliciously, which is why it will be on our Thanksgiving table.
Oven space is prime real estate at a holiday gathering, but the broccoli isn’t picky about oven placement so it can go on the bottom rack while the dinner rolls bake.
It can also be cooked in advance until almost done and reheated (in the oven, not microwave) before tossing with the other ingredients.
Roasted until crisp-tender, it’s a quick toss and on the table in no time—easy enough for anyone wanting to “help” too.
A roasted broccoli side dish fit for any feast.
While the original recipe included pine nuts, my friend’s version included pumpkin seeds that were also good.
I used pistachios because it’s what I had on-hand and it turned out to be my favorite. Walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds—you can get creative with the texture all sorts of ways.
I also add crushed red pepper for complexity without seeming spicy.
Check out even more simple holiday recipe ideas at the end of this post …
Adapted from Ina Garten’s Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli
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Roasted broccoli tossed with sliced garlic, fresh lemon, savory Parmesan and pistachio nuts.
Ingredients
- 8 cups broccoli — cut into bite-size spears
- 4 cloves garlic — thinly sliced
- 1 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3-4 tablespoons avocado oil or melted coconut oil
- 1/3 rounded cup Parmesan cheese — grated
- 1/4 cup roasted & salted pistachios — shelled, coarsely crushed
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest — approximately 1 large lemon
- 1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice — approximately 1 large lemon
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F Divide and trim the broccoli florets and stalk into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, toss the broccoli with the sliced garlic, 1 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. black pepper, and 1/2 tsp. pepper flakes. Drizzle 4-5 tablespoons of oil over the broccoli and mix with your hands, rubbing a thin coat of oil onto the broccoli and garlic. Spread the broccoli in a rimmed baking sheet in an even single layer and roast for 15-20 minutes, until crisp-tender and the edges of the broccoli and garlic are browned.
- In a mortar and pestle, crush pistachios until some are the size of bread crumbs mixed with larger, coarse pieces (or put the pistachios in a bag and use a meat mallet). Toss the Parmesan, pistachios, lemon zest, and lemon juice, with broccoli and garlic and finish with a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.
More Simple Thanksgiving Side Dish Favorites:
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Garlic Aioli
Curry Roasted Acorn Squash & Pecans
Roasted Beets with Blackberry-Ginger Balsamic & Feta
Savory Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli-Cauliflower Gratin
Roasted Vegetable Medley with Rosemary & Thyme
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Roasting this would give a lot of flavours. Love this simple recipe.
★★★★★
Wonderful recipe, Judy! I love to have a selection of tasty and nutritious side dishes at any festive event.
★★★★★
That’s a lovely side dish to complement the best of meals.
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We’ve roasted Brussels sprouts three times in the last two weeks so I know we will love this! Never thought of seeds and nuts, sounds so good!
★★★★★
Broccoli really roasts well — love the stuff. And you’ve really taken it up a notch with this recipe — you’ve added loads and loads of flavor! Really nice — thanks.
Great flavors and everything is always nicer with a little parmesan and garlic. Great little side dish.
★★★★★
I can’t wait to make your version of roasted broccoli with the nuts…it sounds terrific.
This recipe looks so delicious! You know, I roasted carrots, squash and other things but never thought to roast broccoli. I’ve already pinned this !! ; o )
Judy, this looks mouthwateringly good! I think I just coined a word, but really it does. I would never think of cooking broccoli in the oven for fear of overcooking, but I’m sure you’ve tested that out. And with Thanksgiving, one must have a green side dish. I like broccoli and garlic flavors too, so def pinned.
It would not have occurred to me to roast broccoli before I read this post today. Your photo makes this side dish very appealing. Plus I love pistachios, lemon, and the other additions to the broccoli. Will have to try this one sometime soon!
This looks amazing – do you have advice if one needs to make it ahead? I’m looking for a roasted broccoli recipe that I can bring to Thanksgiving but they all say ‘serve immediately’ and I need one that can stand up for a few hours before serving…
I think this would be just as good as a room temp dish as it is hot, but that is a personal preference. The broccoli will not wilt any further if it sits and the cheese doesn’t melt so there wouldn’t be any issue with that. Once it sits for a couple hours, I would toss it a little just before eating just to fluff it and redistribute any oil that may have settled, if possible.
Thanks!! I’ll let you know how it turns out.