I have been wanting to try this out since season 6 Top Chef winner, Michael Voltaggio, made it on the season finale a couple of weeks ago. The remaining 3 contestants were tasked with a challenge to make something inspired by their favorite childhood dish. Michael did a play on broccoli, which he said he hated as a child.
Broccoli popcorn.
Intriguing.
When a head of broccoli showed up in the CSA delivery last week, I knew it was time to give it a go.
A search on the internet for broccoli popcorn doesn't yield much. But it did lead me to discover a new blog - Fatal Foodies (a group of mystery writers and food lovers!) - and a post on broccoli popcorn. Rather than fried, as Michael has prepared it, the Fatal Foodies' version is baked in a super hot oven. It turned out just as I was imagining.
Broccoli Popcorn
Serves 2
2 heads broccoli, cut into small florets
2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
sea salt & freshly ground pepper
a couple pinches of red pepper flakes
Heat oven to 500 degrees. Toss the broccoli with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl until the oil and seasonings are well distributed. Bake broccoli in a glass baking dish, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until crisp and beginning to brown.
Warning: highly addictive. By the time I finished photographing this dish, I'd eaten the whole plate!
Roasted broccoli is THE BEST THING EVER. Try cauliflower too!
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the Top Chef espisode, my 10 year old son asked me to make popcorn broccoli. Voltaggio's recipe seemed too complicated so I just dipped the florets in butter and baked them to death. He loves it but I think I'll try this recipe instead!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting it.