Go Back
+ servings
Broccoli florets in a white bowl with slivers of toasted garlic and a lemony sauce drizzled on top of the garlic.

Italian Broccoli Recipe With Garlic and Lemon

Grace
Italian Broccoli With Garlic and Lemon is an easy, healthy, and delicious side dish! Your whole family will love the zingy, garlicky, and sumptuous sauce drizzled over tender broccoli.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 3 servings
Calories 660 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot to boil the broccoli
  • Large pan or skillet to make the sauce

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb broccoli florets cut into bite sized pieces; you can sub broccoli rabe if you like
  • 4 cloves garlic cut thinly into slivers
  • ¼ ts salt
  • ¼ ts pepper
  • 1 each lemon zest of half a lemon and juice from the entire lemon (select a small lemon)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions
 

  • Begin by boiling the broccoli florets in some salted water in a large pot. Boil for around 4-5 minutes, or to your desired tenderness, and then drain the broccoli. Set it aside, and keep it warm while we make our zesty sauce.
    Broccoli florets in water in a large pot.
  • Zest ½ of your lemon and then juice the entire lemon.
    Lemon zest in a white bowl with a zester resting on top of the bowl and a green juicer with lemon seeds and lemon juice underneath the white bowl.
  • Add the olive oil and butter to a large skillet (cast iron is preferred) on medium low heat. Now add the thin slivers of garlic. Saute the garlic until it turns a lovely shade of golden brown, as seen in the picture. You'll want to keep a close eye on this, because when it seems nothing is happening with your garlic, all of a sudden it starts to turn brown! A little patience may be required here, but stick with it and you will be rewarded with gorgeous toasted garlic. It took me around 4-5 minutes, and please be sure to stir often during this process. Once the garlic turns golden brown, then add the salt, pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir to combine thoroughly.
    A cast iron pan with olive oil and melted butter, slivers of toasted garlic, salt and pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest.
  • The last step is to pour this beautiful sauce over your warmed broccoli.
    Broccoli florets in a white bowl with slivers of toasted garlic and a lemony sauce in a white bowl being drizzled on top of the garlic.

Nutrition

Calories: 660kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 14gFat: 56gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 40gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 750mgPotassium: 1507mgFiber: 12gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2853IUVitamin C: 409mgCalcium: 254mgIron: 4mg
Keyword broccoli, vegetable side dish, vegetables
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!