Broccolini With Candied Pecans

Name: Broccolini With Candied Pecans
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: For the Candied Pecans:; 1 cup pecans; 2 teaspoons Extra Virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon; Pinch ground nutmeg; Pinch cayenne pepper; 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1 tablespoon good quality maple syrup; For the Broccolini:; 4 bunches broccolini, about 1 1-/2-inch pieces of the top parts only; 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, grated; 1/2 teaspoon salt; Freshly ground black pepper to taste; 2 teaspoons lemon zest; 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, for garnish

Andrea Potischman | Oct 26, 2020

Broccolini is a favorite, but then again, there are not many vegetables I don’t love. This recipe for broccolini with candied pecans was a no-brainer for me, the perfect blending of a few simple things I’m fond of. But broccolini is a confusing vegetable for some. To start, it isn’t baby broccoli. So, what is broccolini, anyway?

To clarify, broccolini is not broccoli rabe either, but it sure looks like it could be. Surprisingly, broccolini is more closely related to broccoli as it is more mild. Broccolini, like broccoli, belongs is in the brassica family, along with another favorite of mine, Brussels sprouts.

Broccolini is something simpler, it’s a cross-breed of broccoli and Chinese broccoli, a leafy vegetable commonly referred to as “gai lan” in Cantonese or “jie lan” in Mandarin. With broccolini, you get delicate baby florets, similar to broccoli florets, and the longer stems and leaves found in Chinese broccoli. But in all honesty, it’s a rather perfect mixture of the two.

Flavor-wise, broccolini falls somewhere in the middle. Less bitter than regular broccoli, with a subtle mild sweetness of Chinese broccoli mixed in. So what you get with broccolini is great texture; a lovely crunch from the tender stems and the perfect balance of buds.

Cooking with broccolini is effortless as It requires a lot less prep and minimal cooking time. While there are many cooking options for this hybrid vegetable, in this recipe for broccolini with candied pecans I prefer a blanch and quick sauce to highlight the crunchiness and maintain that beautiful bold green color. The candied pecans and pomegranate seeds get tossed in at the end and take this hybrid favorite to a whole new playing field of deliciousness. This is a great vegetable side dish for fall and would make a perfect pairing for any holiday meal.