Air-Fryer Broccoli Recipe

I’m a creature of behavior: Once I discover one thing I really like, I keep it up and I put it on repeat. Which means rewatching Gilmore Women, studying the identical Joshua Rothman New Yorker essay each time I’ve an existential disaster, and making air-fryer broccoli three (okay, perhaps 5) instances per week. What can I say? Air-fryer broccoli ticks all of the packing containers: It’s simple, scrumptious, nutritious, and fast, taking simply three minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook dinner. Gone are the times after I needed to look ahead to my oven to preheat for at the very least 20 minutes earlier than roasting broccoli for an additional 20 minutes, for an interminable complete of 40 minutes earlier than I may get it on the desk. 

Now, I simply press a couple of buttons, wait a minute or two, and my air fryer is able to go. There’s a cause why the equipment is such a powerhouse: It’s mainly a tiny convection oven that circulates air extraordinarily effectively, which is why it’s so nice at rapidly and completely roasting broccoli. Although getting ready the vegetable in your air fryer isn’t sophisticated, there are a couple of ideas and tips that may assist you make flavorful broccoli that’s each crisp and tender. Right here’s what you have to know.

Ideas for Making Glorious Air-Fryer Broccoli

Minimize the broccoli into evenly sized florets. Conserving all of the florets 1 1/2 to 2 inches in dimension creates extra floor space for crisping, whereas additionally permitting for extra uniform cooking.

Maintain moisture to a minimal. Extra water leftover from washing your broccoli could cause it to steam as a substitute of roast, leading to soggy greens, so make sure you dry your broccoli properly earlier than placing it within the air fryer. (I rinse my broccoli florets below chilly operating water, then dry them on a baking sheet lined with a clear dish towel or paper towels.) Equally, overcrowding the florets can entice moisture and make it troublesome for air to flow into, stopping the broccoli from crisping up, so cook dinner the broccoli in small batches to let the air circulate freely.

Begin at a excessive temperature. As Kenji wrote in his easy roasted broccoli recipe, cooking the vegetable at a excessive temperature triggers the Maillard reaction—a collection of chemical reactions that takes place when warmth transforms proteins and sugars into complicated (and scrumptious) flavors, aromas, and colours. A excessive temperature additionally helps the vegetable caramelize, which produces candy, nutty flavors in addition to a crispness on the skin that contrasts fantastically with the tender interiors of the florets. Beginning the broccoli at 400ºF (205ºC) after which decreasing the temperature to 340ºF (170ºC) after it’s had an opportunity to crisp produces florets with simply the correct quantity of char, whereas making certain the insides are simply tender sufficient.

Serve the broccoli merely or costume it up. Whereas crispy air-fryer broccoli is unbelievable with nothing greater than a sprinkle of salt and the olive oil it’s cooked in, there are numerous nice methods to gussy it up, reminiscent of tossing the uncooked florets in a aromatic combination of soy sauce and ginger earlier than cooking or spooning chili crisp over the cooked broccoli. See the Variations part under the recipe for extra concepts on dressing up your air-fryer broccoli. You too can incorporate the cooked broccoli right into a quiche or omelet or prime your pizza with it.

Personally? I prefer to pour all of it into the bowl and bathe it with a beneficiant handful of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, recent lemon zest, and loads of freshly floor black pepper. However I really like air fryer broccoli a lot that I’d eat it day-after-day—even by itself.