Sautéed broccoli is a healthy, versatile side dish that goes well with all sorts of entrees. Although broccoli is a great tasting veggie on its own, we like to keep it interesting by including an additional ingredient or two. This recipe uses dried orange peel, a natural complement which brightens the flavor and adds a little visual contrast. Our recipe notes include a few more variations as well.

Sautéed Broccoli with Orange Peel

This easy sautéed broccoli recipe is very quick to make and includes dried orange peel for added depth of flavor.

Author: Lynne Webb
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

3/4 to 1 lb broccoli florets
1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, quartered
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon dried orange peel (or 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Wash and thoroughly dry the broccoli florets, then trim them so they are as uniform in size as possible.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, sauté for 1-1/2 minutes, then remove it from the pan and discard.
Raise the heat to high and add the broccoli. Cook, stirring constantly, until the broccoli turns bright green, about 2 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium-high, add the water and orange peel and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the broccoli is tender, about 2 minutes more.

Notes

Recipe Variations:

To give this recipe a bit of an Asian flair, toss the broccoli with 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil and 2 teaspoons sesame seeds just before serving.
For a different flavor profile, replace 1 teaspoon of the water with balsamic vinegar (this will darken the broccoli) and add a pinch of crushed red pepper.
For a third variation, just before serving, squeeze a wedge of lemon over the broccoli and toss it with a tablespoon of melted butter.

Sautéed Broccoli with Orange Peel