Charred Spicy Broccolini Food

SPICY ROASTED BROCCOLINI WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• For the preserved lemon: Mix the salt with 1 cup sugar in a small bowl. Layer the lemon slices with the salt-sugar mixture in a nonreactive dish so that the lemon slices are completely buried. Leave the dish uncovered on the kitchen counter and let sit for 2 to 3 days.
• Remove the lemon slices from the salt-sugar mixture and rinse well under cold water. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, then add the lemon slices and simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool and store in a container with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• For the broccolini: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Blanch the broccolini by filling a medium saucepan with water and bringing it to a boil. Add a generous handful of salt (it should taste like the sea). Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the broccolini to the boiling water and cook until just barely tender, about 2 minutes. Drain the broccolini and immediately plunge into the ice water to shock. Transfer the broccolini to paper towels and blot dry.
• Add the blanched broccolini, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil and some salt and pepper to a cast-iron skillet and toss well. Place the skillet in the oven and roast until the broccolini stalks are soft and cooked through and the ends are brown and crispy, approximately 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the chile paste, 2 tablespoons chopped preserved lemon and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Toss the roasted broccolini with the preserved lemon mixture and serve.

CHARRED BROCCOLINI WITH OLIVES

Steps:

• Cut the florets off 2 bunches broccolini and cut the stems into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Toss both with 1 thinly sliced red onion, 1/4 cup halved kalamata olives, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Transfer to a large sheet of heavy-duty foil; fold into a packet. Grill over medium-high heat, flipping once, until lightly charred, 8 minutes.

CHARRED BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons each soy sauce and rice vinegar with 4 teaspoons each sesame oil and honey; season with salt and pepper. Thinly slice 2 cups shiitake mushroom caps and 1 shallot; add to the dressing. Toss 2 heads chopped broccoli with vegetable oil; cook on a hot grill pan, 2 minutes per side. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with the dressing, some sesame seeds and a thinly sliced red jalapeno.

CHARRED BROCCOLINI WITH HOMEMADE RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over high heat until smoking. In a medium bowl, drizzle the broccolini with olive oil and season with salt. Toss to coat. Place the broccolini on the hot pan or griddle but do not crowd (if using a 12-inch cast iron you can do two batches) Allow to sear, undisturbed, for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes, until the edges of the florets are a deep brown and the stems are tender and bright green with charring on the edges. Turn off the heat. Return the broccolini to the bowl. Season with a couple turns of black pepper. Add the grated garlic and lemon zest and toss to coat. Season to taste.
• To serve, spoon some Ricotta (recipe follows) in the center of a plate. Arrange the broccolini around the cheese, sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes, if using, flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with lemon wedges.
• Line a colander or large sieve with 1 layer of very fine cheesecloth (or 2 to 3 layers of more porous cloth) and set over a large bowl.
• To make the cheese, combine the milk and salt in a non-reactive pot over medium heat. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally until it reaches 175 degrees F, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. Gently stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until chunks form and separate from the whey (this happens within 30 seconds or so). Don't stir too often or vigorously or the curds will break. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the curds into the prepared cheesecloth-lined sieve. Allow to sit and strain for 20 minutes. Serve immediately at room temperature or transfer the ricotta cheese into an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHARRED BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Make the bread crumbs: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the panko and mix well. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, mixing occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• In a small pan over medium-low heat, heat the fat or oil until shimmering. Add the anchovies and sauté until browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer anchovies to paper towels to drain. Scrape the anchovies into a bowl. Add the shallots, panko and salt and mix well; set aside.
• Make the aioli: In a small saucepan, combine the garlic and oil. Place over very low heat and allow garlic to cook until softened but not browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Transfer garlic to a blender, reserving the oil. Add the eggs, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, vinegar, caper juice and lemon juice. Pulse until foamy. With blender at medium speed, slowly stream in the reserved oil until mixture has the consistency of thin mayonnaise. If more saltiness is desired, add fish sauce to taste. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate; the aioli will thicken when chilled.
• Make the broccoli: Place a heavy-bottomed pan over high heat until very hot. Add the grapeseed oil and place broccoli, cut side down, in the pan. Lightly season with salt.
• Sear broccoli until browned, about 1 minute, then quickly flip to sear the raw side for 30 seconds. Promptly remove from heat.
• To serve, arrange broccoli on a platter or individual plates. Brush with garlic aioli, and sprinkle liberally with the seasoned panko. Serve immediately.