Broccoli with Blue Cheese and Garlic Bread Crumbs

When it comes to cooked vegetables, broccoli is hands down my favorite. And putting a cheese sauce on it is a no brainer, but this is the first time I thought to try a blue cheese sauce rather than cheddar. It's a keeper!

Most recipes will direct you to oven roast the broccoli, but I find that cooking it in a covered cast iron pan for the first ten minutes will give you that blackened crispy broccoli that you crave, and also steam it at the same time, without having to heat up a whole oven. Then, if you choose to got the extra step and make the simple garlic bread crumbs, you use the pan that the broccoli was pan seared in, and it is a one pan meal!

When you cut your broccoli, make sure to create lots of flat surfaces, keeping the stalks attached. You want to sear those flat surfaces on the hot oiled surface of the pan to achieve that crispy, blackened surface.

This meal was inspired by an old piece of blue cheese languishing in my cheese drawer, so I made homemade blue cheese dressing; feel free to use your favorite store bought.

Broccoli with Blue Cheese and Garlic Bread Crumbs
Serves 2

lb broccoli, stalks trimmed, cut in 4 inch planks for lots of flat surfaces
2-3 tablespoons olive oil, separated
salt

2-3 tablespoons blue cheese dressing to taste

Garlic Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup fine bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced

salt

pepper

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium low heat for 3-5 minutes; covered, it will heat faster. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and swirl to coat it well. Place broccoli cut side down in the pan and cover; sear undisturbed for at least 7-8 minutes. Remove cover and check how well broccoli is searing; tip any accumulated water from the lid into the pan. If broccoli is well seared, flip the pieces and sprinkle all with some salt and recover and cook another 5-7 minutes. Check broccoli for tenderness, allowing any condensation in the lid to drip back into the pan. Remove the cover and allow broccoli to finish searing.

While broccoli is cooking, mince garlic and measure out bread crumbs. When broccoli is done, remove to a serving dish, scrape out any bits of broccoli and add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Add garlic and fry quickly until it just begins to turn color. Add breadcrumbs and stir to coat in oil. Season with salt and pepper and cook for another minute. Turn off heat.

Spoon blue cheese dressing over broccoli and sprinkle with garlic bread crumbs. Serve immediately.

Hugs!