Roasted Broccolini And Cheddar Food

ROASTED BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Toss the broccoli florets with the oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on a baking sheet and spread out in a single layer. Roast the broccoli until browned in parts and tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to a cutting board to cool. Coarsely chop the broccoli.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook until the flour is lightly browned and has a paste-like consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the half-and-half and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture just comes to a bare simmer and has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the Cheddar and Monterey Jack until melted. Gently stir in the roasted broccoli and mustard. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a serving dish and serve with roasted potato wedges or other dippers.

ROASTED BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim 2 inches off the ends of the broccolini stems and cut any thick stalks in half lengthwise. Place the broccolini in a single layer on two sheet pans. (If you put them on one sheet pan, the broccolini will steam rather than roast.) Drizzle each sheet pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and toss well. Roast for 15 minutes, until the broccolini is crisp-tender. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve hot.

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.

THE BEST BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Add the chicken broth, broccoli, bay leaves, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and few grinds of black pepper Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the broth has thickened and the broccoli is very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prick the potato all over with a fork and put on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high until tender, flipping halfway through, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then peel. Use a fork or potato masher to mash until crumbly.
• Reserve 2 cups of the soup in a liquid measuring cup and discard the bay leaves. Let the remaining hot soup cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Add the mashed potato. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until very smooth.
• Stir the pureed soup and reserved 2 cups of soup back into the pot. Whisk in the cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into serving bowls and top with more shredded Cheddar.

ROASTED CHEDDAR BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Cut 1 large head broccoli into long spears. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil on a baking sheet; season with salt. Roast at 450 degrees F until almost tender, 15 minutes. Toss 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko) with 1 cup grated sharp cheddar, 1 bunch sliced scallions, 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of nutmeg. Sprinkle on the broccoli and roast 15 more minutes.

ROASTED SPICY BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Trim about 1/4 inch off the bottoms of the broccolini and remove any leaves. Place broccolini into a large resealable plastic bag.
• Combine oil, vinegar, salt, garlic powder, oregano, crushed red pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl. Pour over broccolini and gently toss to coat. Seal bag and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, turning over halfway through.
• Spread broccolini in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and top with feta cheese.
• Roast for in the preheated oven until tops are browned and stems are crisp-tender, about 15 minutes.

BROCCOLINI-CHEDDAR MELTS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Steam broccolini until just tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry. Broil bread on baking sheet until lightly toasted, about 1 minute per side. Spread top side of each bread slice with mustard-flavored mayonnaise. Top each with onion slice, broccolini and cheese. Broil until cheese melts and browns, about 2 minutes.