If you love the delicious taste of seared broccoli, then break out the skillet and turn up the heat. Follow this guide for how to saute broccoli and you’ll master this method in no time flat!
I love the crispy bits of seared broccoli that give way to the tenderness of each floret. This versatile vegetable can support a ton of different flavors.
Sauteed Broccoli
Want to know how to make perfect sautéed broccoli? Keep these tips in mind:
First, because we’re cooking at relatively high heat, you will want to cut the florets into small, evenly sized pieces.
Second, heat the pan before putting in the oil. It helps to use an oil with a higher smoking point instead of butter.
Third, if you tend the florets too frequently, they won’t get the browned areas where they have a proper sear. You will miss out on the flavors and texture that make this technique worth the effort.
Let them rest in the pan just enough to brown on one side before tossing them. The crispy bits are the best part!
How to Saute Broccoli
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to sauté broccoli:
Prep the broccoli: Clean the broccoli crown, then pare the florets down to an even size. Pat them dry. Any excess water will result in steaming the broccoli.
Prep the pan: Get out your largest skillet or sauté pan. For me, this Misen pan is the perfect skillet for sauteeing. Put the pan on a burner, and turn the heat up to medium-high. Let it heat up for 1-2 minutes.
Toss frequently: Sauté comes from the French word sauter (to jump) because of the way it keeps the food moving. Many cooks use the pan itself to toss the vegetables.
But, if you’ve experienced messy spills like me, you can use a utensil to stir the broccoli or tongs to turn them. Remember, let them sit long enough to brown a bit before you toss them.
How Long to Saute Broccoli
Wondering how long to saute broccoli? It will depend on how small the pieces are, how seared you want them to be, etc.
Expect to sauté the broccoli for approximately 5 minutes to reach tender crisp. Check the tenderness every 30 to 60 seconds after that point.
I can’t overstate the importance of testing with a fork and also tasting the vegetables when trying new cooking methods.
We prefer our vegetables more firm than soft, with a solid bite to them. If you prefer your vegetables to be a bit more cooked, just add a minute or two to the provided cooking times. It’s always better to err on the side of undercooked versus overdone.
Keep in mind that cooking times are estimates and adjust them to be exactly what you like best.
There are so many great ways to cook broccoli! Once you’ve mastered sauteeing, you may want to try air frying, roasting, boiling, or even steaming it.
How to Saute Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound broccoli cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ tablespoon kosher salt adjust to taste
- ¼ tablespoon pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Add oil and broccoli to the skillet and toss to coat. Add 1 tablespoon water and cover with a lid. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Uncover and stir. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking uncovered, stirring occasionally to allow the broccoli to brown a bit, for an additional 2-3 minutes to desired doneness.
- When broccoli is tender-crisp, remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Nutrition
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