Marinated Broccoli ⋆ Deb's Daily Dish

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Serve this marinated broccoli with your next dinner and you will love how delicious it is! A simple mixture of fresh or dried herbs and spices, olive oil, fresh lemon juice and vinegar transforms this simple, basic vegetable into a very flavorful side dish.

Broccoli florets and lemon on white platter.

We eat tons of vegetables at our house. Because I try to eat mostly low carb, healthy recipes, I tend to avoid rice, pasta and potatoes. This means I add in more veggies for my healthy recipes.

But I admit, sometimes they are boring. Using a flavorful marinade is a great way to add so much flavor to the ordinary vegetable. It is the best way to vary the flavors and want to eat more veggies. I will also make them into a main dish by adding some grilled chicken, pork or beef.

I've shared a few recipes that highlight marinated vegetables. Try my marinated asparagus, mushrooms and mushroom salad, asparagus and carrots and grilled beets. They are all delicious and I'm sure you will love them!

Why this recipe is just so good....

Broccoli is so healthy, full of vitamins and fiber. It's a fantastic side dish that is low carb and keto.
You can add so many different flavors to broccoli. Some favorite herbs that go well are garlic, ginger, cilantro, mint, oregano, parsley, thyme and tarragon.
It is a quick cooking vegetable with quick and easy prep time.

Recipe Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make this delicious Marinated Broccoli:

lemon juice
vinegar ( I used white wine vinegar)
olive oil
salt
black pepper
red pepper flakes
garlic powder
fresh thyme and oregano sprigs (optional, not shown)

Vinegar, lemon, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, olive oil, pepper, salt.

broccoli florets

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Broccoli - Choose organic broccoli if you can. Make sure the heads are dark green and pretty tightly closed. If they are yellowed or opening like a flower, choose another one. Also, look at the bottom of the stalk and see if it looks very dry and cracked or for any mold. Even though you may not use the stalk, freshness is important for the best flavor and texture.

Vinegar - you can use white vinegar, white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar. If you use white or red, add an extra pinch of sugar in the marinade since the wine vinegar is a bit sweeter.

Red pepper flakes - I found using just a pinch in the marinated broccoli was more than enough extra spicy flavor. If you lean towards liking spicier foods, add an extra ¼ teaspoon.

How to make Marinated Broccoli

Stir together the marinade ingredients in a cup or small bowl.

Marinade in glass measuring cup and whisk.

Rinse and drain the broccoli and cut into approximately 2 inch florets. Place them in storage bag or large bowl.

Pour the marinade over the broccoli and keep refrigerated at least 30 minutes, up to 1 hour.

Broccoli with marinade in plastic storage bag.

Drain the broccoli. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, adding 1 tablespoon oil. Spread the broccoli out in the pan in a single layer.

Stir fry the broccoli for 3-4 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of water and cook another 3 minutes or so, depending on how crisp or tender you like to eat it.

Recipe Tips

Taste the marinade before pouring over broccoli. You may like it a bit sweeter, spicier or prefer other seasonings.
For softer broccoli, add a bit more water and cover the frying pan for last 3 minutes or so. If you like it crisper, don't cover the pan.
While we love the caramelized flavor from the seared and browned broccoli, not everyone does. Turn the flame to low heat if you prefer for the broccoli not to brown at all.

Storage and Reheating

Leftover broccoli should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a skillet for a minutes or two over medium heat. You can also reheat in the microwave or on a baking tray in the oven.

FAQ

How can I use broccoli stalks?

The raw broccoli stalks are pretty tough and fibrous but they are edible and very healthy. The trick is to make sure they are sliced or chopped in small pieces so they aren't tough to eat.
Use a vegetable peeler and shave off some of the outer part of the stalk. Then there are so many ways to use it.Add finely chopped broccoli stalks in soups and vegetable slaw.
You can use very thinly sliced stalks in a stir fry or a salad.
Also cut off about ¼ inch of the bottom stalk. And then you can thinly slice the bottom into round "coin-like" shapes and roast in the oven.

Can I marinate the broccoli overnight?

I don't recommend marinating broccoli more than an hour, at the most. Any more than that and the broccoli tips will get soggy.

What goes well with marinated broccoli?

We eat broccoli at least once or twice a week and like to serve it with meats we have grilled. Some favorites are brats, pork chops, and chicken.