Lightly griddled broccoli wedges with a delicious Romesco sauce is the perfect side dish for your springtime banquet. The combination of sweet and slightly acidic with the smoky red pepper Romesco sauce pairs beautifully with the charred broccoli, a flavour profile that will certainly impress your dinner guests.
Broccoli contains compounds that some people may consider bitter. However, gently griddling your broccoli will allow a delicious earthy, almost sweet taste to rise. It also brings out many nutrients, including a wide array of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
What is Romesco sauce?
Romesco sauce is a rich Spanish sauce comprising of roasted red peppers, which are pureed and thickened with toasted almonds and sometimes pieces of bread.
The origin of the sauce dates back to the 18th century, where fishermen were believed to have made the sauce to eat with their rather bland meals, whilst catching their fish off the coast of Catalonia, Northwest Spain.
The taste of Romesco sauce is lightly sweet and tangy in flavour, with a delicious hint of garlic and smoky flavours and a touch of spice. As the sauce is a classic Mediterranean condiment, it’s the perfect accompaniment to fish, grilled vegetables and roasted chicken.
Is Romesco sauce served hot or cold?
Romesco sauce is very adaptable and can be served either hot or cold depending on the dish that you’re making.
Romesco sauce served cold:
Romesco sauce served hot:
- On top of roasted/griddled vegetables (especially aubergine or roast potatoes).
- Stirred in a pasta dish.
- Drizzled over seasonal greens
Can you freeze Romesco sauce?
Romesco sauce can freeze and last for up to 3 months in the freezer. We do not recommend storing the sauce longer than 3 months as the flavour can start to degrade and the colour becomes dull.
You can freeze Romesco sauce easily by using an ice cub tray:
- Portion the sauce into the ice cube tray. You can use spoons to make it easier to pour into each ice cube square.
- Wrap the ice cub tray with a layer of clingfilm to prevent spillages and also limit the chance of any odours in your freezer.
- Put the tray in the freeze carefully, keeping it as flat as possible.
- Once frozen solid, you can pop the cubes out of the ice cube tray into a freezer bag, making sure it is sealed up.
- Label the bag with the contents and the date it was made, before placing it back in the freezer.
The best way to defrost Romesco sauce is by taking a cube out of the freezer and popping it into the dish, allowing it to thaw whilst the dish continues to cook.
How to make Romesco sauce?
- Start by making the romesco sauce.
- In a large frying pan, add the blanched almonds and toast them until they turn colour and start to char in places, turning them over so they evenly toast. Then tip them out the pan and allow to cool slightly.
- In a food processor add the roasted red peppers, toasted almonds, handful of parsley and the garlic cloves. Pulse this until everything has broken down to a chunky paste. Then add the sherry vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil and pulse again to your desired texture – you don’t want it to be completely smooth.
- Tip the mixture from the food processor to a bowl and stir through the paprika and Aleppo pepper. Taste the sauce and then add some Maldon Sea Salt flakes and cracked black pepper.
How to make griddled broccoli?
- Prepare the broccoli. Heat a griddle pan onto a high heat. Slice the broccoli heads into wedges by cutting each one in half lengthways through the stalk, then cut each half again into quarters.
- Rub each wedge with olive oil, and then place onto the griddle pan. Let each side cook for 5 minutes until prominently char lines appear on the stalk before turning and doing the other side. This can be done in batches; the broccoli will char but also steam as it cooks.
Do you have to boil broccoli before frying?
You do not need to boil broccoli before frying in the pan if you implement a steaming method to it. This is where you trap hot air in the pan to help soften the broccoli. This allows the broccoli to be a little softer in texture when you bite into it, but still irresistibly crunchy.
You can blanch the florets before stir-frying to help soften the stems and stop the enzyme that leads to browning. We recommend adding a good pinch of Maldon Sea Salt flakes and a dash of olive oil to your blanching water to help the broccoli retain it’s crunchy texture and vibrant green colour.
How to serve griddled broccoli with Romesco sauce:
- When you are ready to serve, spoon the romesco sauce across the base of a large serving platter.
- Then arrange the charred broccoli wedges on top.
- Finally scatter with some chopped smoked almonds, a drizzle of olive oil and a final sprinkle of Maldon Sea Salt flakes and Aleppo pepper.
How long does it take to cook raw broccoli?
Broccoli can be easy to overcook, it should always retain it’s vivid bright green colour when cooked and should have a little ‘crunch‘ to it.
When you are boiling broccoli in a pan of boiling water, we recommend cooking the florets for 6-8 minutes.
If you aresteaming your broccoli, make sure to place a steamer over boiling water and cook for the same time, around 6-8 minutes.
You can stir-fry your broccoli for a delicious, crunchy texture. You need to separate into bite-sized florets, adding 1 tbsp of olive oil into the frying plan and adding the broccoli, cooking for around 4-5 minutes or until nice and tender.
When roasting broccoli, we recommend preheating your oven to 400 degrees F for 20 minutes to allow the vegetable to be perfectly roasted.
How long does broccoli keep in the fridge?
Fresh broccoli can last up to 3-5 days in the fridge when properly stored in an air-tight container. If it is cut-up broccoli, we recommend no more than 4 days stored in the fridge, otherwise the vegetable will start to decay in colour and texture and have a unpleasant odour.
If you are storing cooked broccoli in the fridge, make sure to store in a shallow, air-tight container or wrapped in foil. It can be stored for up to 3-5 days.
