Roasted Broccoli & Romanesco with Meyer Lemon

Add greens to your meal with roasted broccoli & romanesco with meyer lemon. Simple prep for a delicious weeknight side. Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free.

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Romanesco is a hip broccoli. It’s similar to cauliflower in texture, but it tastes more like broccoli. It’s sweeter to taste, and prettier to look at. Even the name is just fun to say, “romanesco”. It’s available in the summer and early winter, however finding organic can be tricky. Therefore, whenever I see it, I buy it. Raw or cooked, it tastes great. I place and order with Good Eggs for the first time this week, and romanesco was on their list along with purple sprouted broccoli. What is that?

I eat so many vegetables that anytime I see something new, I have to try it. Despite its promising name, purple sprouted broccoli turns green after cooking. It tastes like broccoli, but the stems are less fibrous. Anyways, I prepped my newly acquainted vegetables with a little olive oil, salt, and my favorite meyer lemons.

Meyer lemons are THE BEST LEMONS. Seriously. A cross between a lemon and an orange. The best of both worlds, even the peel is delicious! I planted a tree two years ago and I’ve been waiting patiently for it to mature and actually bare any fruit. My idea of gardening is to plant something, turn on the drip system and hope for the best. I may be waiting for some time to harvest those round, slightly tart and amazingly sweet lemons. In the meantime, I searched the internet for organic meyer lemons because I know they are in season and my local Whole Foods doesn’t seem to be stocking them. Good Eggs for the win! This is the first of many recipes to follow now that I found a good source for these delightful tart but sweet lemons. On to the good stuff…

How-to Make Roasted Broccoli and Romanesco with Meyer Lemon

Preheat Oven. Preheat oven to 400°F.

Wash, Trim, Cut. Wash and trim the Broccoli, but leave whole. Romanesco should be prepped the same way as cauliflower by removing the stalk, and then breaking the florets into bite-sized pieces.

Season. In a lightly oiled sheet pan, add olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest and half the juice. Mix until vegetables are evenly coated.

Bake. Bake on the top rack of oven for 20 minutes.

Finish with Lemon. Drizzle remaining lemon juice over vegetables. Serve hot and enjoy!

Health Talk

Please take my advice like you do from a friend. I am not a doctor, dietitian or nutritionist. I have a passion for health and cooking and my hope is to bring you information that will help you live a health-filled life.

Broccoli is a nutrient powerhouse, packing vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. It contains compounds which help to fight inflammation, protect against cancer, prevent heart disease, and control blood sugar.

Furthermore, Romanesco provides zinc, carotenoids, iron, vitamin C, and folate. It contains glucosinolates and thiocyanates that help strengthen the liver and hosts enzymes which help cleanse the body of toxins. It is also high in fiber to regulate bowel movements, reduce high blood sugar, and satisfy hunger.

Additionally, lemons are a great source of vitamin C, which supports a healthy immune system. They also contain flavonoids – antioxidants linked with reducing the risk of strokes and high blood pressure.

In conclusion, this dish is super nutritious! For further reading on the benefits of these ingredients, check out the sources at the bottom of this post.

Equipment

– Stainless steel sheet pan

Print

For more information about the health benefits of the ingredients, check out these great resources:

Healthline, Top 14 Health Benefits of Broccoli
WebMD, Health Benefits of Broccoli
USA Today 10 Best, All you need to know about Romanesco, the world’s prettiest vegetable
Medical News Today, Lemons: Benefits, Nutrition, Tips, and Risks