Honey Roasted Broccoli

These crispy sweet honey roasted broccoli are mom-approved and kids-tested. You make this roasted broccoli marinated with sweet honey and cumin sauce. It has just enough sweetness for kids to love it. You make these delicious healthy roasted broccoli in 20 minutes.

How do I get my kids to eat broccoli? I sweeten them and serve them as a delicious side dish or snack.

Take the fresh or frozen broccoli florets, sweeten them with honey, season them with your kid’s favorite spice (I used cumin) and oil, and pop them into a 400 °F preheated oven to roast them to perfection and serve them as a delicious side dish or snack.

Want the roasted honey cumin broccoli to be more crispy? Broil them in the end for a few minutes.

Serve these crispy, sweetened broccoli as a snack and see them disappear quickly.

I served this roasted honey cumin broccoli with an egg sandwich made with my famous Easy sourdough discard flatbread for breakfast.

Find more simple, delicious nutritious side dish recipes:

• Easy sourdough discard naans
• Biscuits without milk
• Farfalle pasta salad
• Garlic sesame green beans

How healthy is roasted broccoli?

Broccoli is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber which makes it a great vegetable to enjoy raw or cooked year-round.

Why broccoli is so good for kids?

Regular consumption of broccoli is beneficial for kids as it’s a great source of vitamins and minerals such as calcium for healthy growth of kids’ brains and strong bones and teeth.

Can you roast frozen broccoli?

Yes. Roasting frozen broccoli in high heat will draw out moisture and help to make it crispy.

Ingredients

• Fresh broccoli florets. Pick the deep green ones and not the yellowish-looking ones.
• Ground cumin. It is a sweet spice. Use any other spice that your kid likes. Adjust the amount to your kids’ preference.
• Avocado or olive oil. Adjust the amount to your liking. Adds flavor to broccoli.
• Honey. Adjust sweetness to your liking. Substitute with brown sugar or sweetener of choice to make this recipe vegan.
• A dash of salt & pepper to taste
• Some sesame seeds. For garnish.

How to make crispy broccoli in the oven? Step by Step instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 °F.

Remove the broccoli stems and cut the broccoli florets into bite-size pieces.

In a large bowl, mix ground cumin, oil, honey, salt, and pepper to create a sauce.

Next, add the sauce to the broccoli florets.

Incorporate the sauce all over the broccoli by hand.

Sprinkle some sesame seeds over them.

Transfer the marinated broccoli florets to a sheet pan and spread them evenly.

Roast them on the middle rack in the oven.

ENJOY!

Tips

• Get the kids involved in preparing broccoli and seasoning them. They will eat their self-made roasted broccoli in no time.
• Roast them on a cast-iron skillet for a perfect result.
• Use a high smoke point oil (avocado oil or butter) since we are roasting them on high heat.
• Add some seeds or nuts; they complement the roasted broccoli nicely.
• Add a dash of your kid’s favorite spices and herbs.
• Cut broccoli into the same size so that they roast at the same time.
• Serve them as a great healthy veggie snack.
• Make a double batch of roasted broccoli and store them in the fridge for later. They are just as delicious when chilled. So no need to heat them if you like!
• For a savory version of roasted broccoli, broccoli seasoned with fresh garlic, sesame, salt, pepper, oil, and fresh lemon is the best combo.
• Check out the sections below for substitutes and more.
• You could prepare and combine everything on the sheet pan just like I did. Less dish to clean!
• If you like crispier roasted broccoli, broil them for a few minutes. Watch them closely.

Substitutes

• Substitute broccoli with other fresh or frozen vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, asparagus, zucchini, cabbage, carrots, or peppers…
• Use curry, paprika, chili, and ginger instead of cumin. Sweet spices such as cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom are other options.
• Butter, ghee, and coconut oil are other great options.
• Substitute honey with maple syrup, molasses, or brown sugar.
• Use a dash of your favorite herbs like thyme or basil.
• Substitute sesame seeds with other seeds, such as sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Or substitute it with finely chopped nuts like walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, etc.

Equipment

I used a 15.5 x 10.5 Inch cast-iron sheet pan. Everything tastes extra delicious when cooked in cast iron cookware.

How to store them

Store roasted honey cumin broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You may enjoy them chilled from the fridge or heat them in a microwave.

What to serve with oven-roasted broccoli

• Serve roasted honey cumin broccoli with oven-roasted or grilled salmon fillet(my favorite), steak, or chicken.
• They go well with casserole, stews, or other skillet main dishes.
• Serve them with hard-boiled eggs or scrambled eggs for breakfast.
• Add it to other dishes such as rice, salads, soups, roasted vegetables, or pasta.

How to pan-roast them

Frozen vegetables take longer to sear, but the basic rules for any type of fresh or frozen vegetable are the same.

1. Instead of roasting the broccoli in the oven, pan-roast them on the stovetop. Works for both fresh and frozen broccoli.
2. Turn the stovetop to medium-high heat and let the skillet heat up nicely.
3. Add to it an oil of choice. Preferably a high smoke point oil.
4. Then, pan-sear broccoli until you see the searing dark mark on them.
5. Add seasons of choice. Some toasted seeds or chopped nuts are great here!
6. Next, lower the heat and cover the pan loosely with a lid so that steam can escape.
7. Let it cook through, but it is still crispy outside.
8. The cooking time depends on the shape of the skillet you use and the amount of broccoli.
9. Garnish them with herbs, lemon, or lime juice, and serve.

The exact instructions hold through for pan-roasting any other vegetables.

How to oven-roast them

Frozen vegetables take longer to sear, but the basic rules for fresh or frozen vegetables are the same.

The secrets to the best-tasting oven-roasted crispy fresh or frozen broccoli are:

1. A well-heated cast-iron skillet on medium-high flame to pan-sear broccoli fast. So they would not be soggy.
2. Add to it an oil of choice. Preferably a high smoke point oil.
3. Then, pan-sear broccoli until you see the searing dark mark on them.
4. Add seasons of choice. Some toasted seeds or chopped nuts are great here!
5. When you see the initial sear mark, transfer them uncovered into a preheated oven at 400 °F to finish cooking. So baking broccoli uncovered at high heat prevents them from becoming soggy or dry.
6. Let them cook through, but it is still crispy outside.
7. The cooking time depends on the shape of the skillet you use and the amount of broccoli.
8. Garnish them with herbs, lemon, or lime juice, and serve.

The exact instructions hold through for oven-roasting any other vegetables.

Broccoli usages

• The easiest way to cook broccoli is on the stovetop. Season and let them steam cook in a pot with little water until soft but still hold their shape. Use them as a side dish. Or pop them covered into the oven and let them cook until soft.
• Mix roasted broccoli in your favorite rice or potato side dishes.
• Make a simple chopped roasted broccoli salad with yogurt dressing.
• Or use them in my ultimate easy delicious recipes for breakfast:
  • Sourdough breakfast recipe
  • Quick and healthy baked beans recipe
  • Easy sourdough bread pizza

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