Cheesy Smashed Broccoli
How can you make your dinner vegetables more interesting? Try these Cheesy Smashed Broccoli! I had no idea that broccoli could have so much more flavor than it already has with just a few easy steps.
If you are looking to try something new, are not a hug fan of broccoli but want to find a way to eat them, or just love the thought of cheesy broccoli, these are sure to please!
This recipe takes:
50 minutes (mostly waiting/cooking time!)
Ingredients
12 oz (or 4 cups) of broccoli
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper
This recipe feeds:
3 people
Let’s get cookin’!
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Blanch the broccoli! Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add all of your broccoli to a pot and put a lid on the pot. Boil the broccoli for about 8 minutes or until tender, but not too soft (you don’t want them to be falling apart when you touch them).
Drain broccoli and add seasonings. Drain all of the water from the pot (or strain the broccoli and add back into the same pot). Then, add your seasonings and shake/mix it up! You can add more seasonings if you’re feeling adventurous :)
Transfer to a baking sheet and smash! On a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, place the broccoli in small clumps. Bigger pieces of broccoli can sit on their own and smaller pieces can be put together to make bigger clumps! Then, take a cup and smash the clumps of broccoli to create flat clusters.
Bake! Put into the oven and bake for 10 minutes on one side. Then, take out of the oven and flip the clusters over (they will still be a bit soft; that is ok). Bake for another 20 minutes or until they start to become golden brown. Take out again, add cheese on top of the broccoli, and bake for another 2-3 minutes until melted.
Enjoy! Use a flat utensil and scoop the broccoli onto your plate. Enjoy a tasty and flavorful addition to your dinner or simply as a mid-day snack!