Today, we’ll be taking a look at how to grill vegetables in a way that makes them taste not just good, but absolutely delicious. Just to show how serious we are, we’ll even use fresh broccoli as the star of our show. Let’s not waste any time in exploring how to grill broccoli.
Table of Contents
Step #1. Prepare Ingredients
- 1 head broccoli
- 1 bunch broccolini
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tsp. crushed red pepper
- Sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Step #2. Chop the Broccoli
Chop broccoli and broccolini into smaller individual pieces (but not so small that they will fall through the grill grates).
Step #3. Prepare the Marinade
In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper together.
Step #4. Marinate the Broccoli
Place the broccoli pieces into a dish. Drizzle the dressing over the broccoli and toss to coat. Let it sit to marinate for 20 minutes. Reserve the leftover dressing for basting.
Step #5. Grill the Broccoli
Heat an outdoor BBQ to medium heat. Grill broccoli until fork-tender (around 10 minutes) – flipping them every 2 to 3 minutes and brushing with the reserved dressing as they are grilling so they don’t get too dry.
Remember to flip them occasionally and brush with the leftover dressing.
Step #6. Take the Broccoli off the Grill
Transfer the broccoli from the grill to a serving dish.
Step #7. Serve the Grilled Broccoli
Serve sprinkled with sesame seeds and more crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
Vegetables are possibly one of the most despised foods in the world. Even as adults, many of us still don’t enjoy eating them, doing so more out of habit or a general concern for health than actual flavor.
This truly is tragic, though. Just like any other food, vegetables have the potential to be just as delicious as anything else we put on our plates. Why do people hate them so much, then?
That answer usually comes down to how your vegetables are cooked. When you cook vegetables by boiling them, much of the flavor gets leached out in the water and the vegetables themselves turn to mush.
With this recipe, you’ll now be able to make broccoli on the grill that tastes almost as good as the steak you’ll be serving it up beside. With a simple marinade and good technique, you’ve elevated one of the most despised vegetables out there into a true flavor sensation.
The key is truly in the cook. When you roast vegetables, they undergo what’s called the Maillard reaction. This happens when the sugars and amino acids in food comes in contact with high heat, caramelizing them to deepen their flavor and give them that distinctive brown and burnished color.
Although this recipe includes both grilled broccolini and broccoli, you can easily swap one for the other instead of a combo of the two.
Are you planning to try our grilled broccoli at your next cookout? Have we even changed your mind on the vegetable itself? Let us know down below.
How to Grill Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 head broccoli
- 1 bunch broccolini
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. garlic - minced
- 1 tsp. crushed red pepper
- Sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Chop broccoli and broccolini into smaller individual pieces (but not so small that they will fall through the grill grates).
- In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper together.
- Place the broccoli pieces into a dish. Drizzle the dressing over the broccoli and toss to coat. Let it sit to marinate for 20 minutes. Reserve the leftover dressing for basting.
- Heat an outdoor BBQ to medium heat. Grill broccoli until fork-tender (around 10 minutes) – flipping them every 2 to 3 minutes and brushing with the reserved dressing as they are grilling so they don't get too dry.
- Transfer the broccoli from the grill to a serving dish.
- Serve sprinkled with sesame seeds and more crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Looking to further enhance your cooking skills? Check out How to Make Jerk Sauce