Roasted Maple Sesame Broccoli

Looking for a new, quick and delicious side dish to go with just about anything? Look no further than my roasted maple sesame broccoli! Just a few ingredients and some time in the oven is all you need for this savory, slightly sweet, healthy(ish) roasted broccoli.

I'm on a mission these days to come up with the easiest, most delicious, go-with-anything side dishes for us.

Because it's one thing to decide you want salmon or chicken for dinner. But it's a whole other thing to figure out what else to put on your plate.

What we need are a handful of go-to dishes we can make right alongside the main, with minimal clean-up (and ingredients, if I can help it!!) that go with all our favorites.

Enter this roasted maple sesame broccoli!

Roasted broccoli is one of my most favorite things on earth. Truly. The oven just brings out the best in the vegetable, making it so perfectly caramelized and almost a little sweet. Roasted broccoli is great with just about anything, which makes it the most perfect side dish for weeknight meals especially. You are probably already familiar with Ina's iconic roasted broccoli recipe, and this is a riff on that!

Today we're adding just a few (amazing) ingredients to make a roasted broccoli dish that will change your life!

And when I saw a few, I actually mean it. Along with the oil and salt (which is 100% needed when roasting), you just need a drizzle of maple syrup, some sesame seeds and a tiny bit of sesame oil. That's it!

What you'll need

Broccoli: You'll need about a pound of fresh broccoli. Don't throw away the stems - they roast up beautifully!

Maple syrup: Not only does it add a lovely sweetness, the syrup helps the broccoli caramelize perfectly while it roasts.

Sesame seeds: You can use black or white sesame seeds, but I like the way white looks best. I don't worry about toasting them beforehand as they'll toast up while the broccoli roasts.

Toasted sesame oil: Even the tiniest bit gives this dish SO much flavor. It's the perfect complement to the sweet maple syrup.

How to make roasted maple sesame broccoli

Cut the broccoli

Cut your broccoli so the pieces are mostly the same size and can cook up quickly. The key to getting perfectly caramelized broccoli is to cut florets in half so you have a flat side that makes contact with the pan as it roasts. Also, don't throw away the stalk! I like to peel away the outer layer and then cut that up and roast it too.

Toss with seasonings

Toss the broccoli with a little oil, maple syrup and sesame seeds.

Roast broccoli

Arrange broccoli on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure to keep any of the cut, flat sides down! Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until broccoli is tender and caramelized. You can toss halfway through, but no worries if you don't (I rarely do!).

Serve!

When broccoli is done, drizzle with a tiny bit of sesame oil to really amp up that sesame flavor. Serve hot!

What to serve roasted maple sesame broccoli with

This sweet and savory dish seriously goes with just about anything. I love it with salmon especially, but it's perfect with vegetarian main dishes as well.

• Slow-baked salmon
• Creamed spinach chicken skillet
• Rosé caramel salmon
• Rosemary bacon white beans
• Crispy grains and chickpeas with garlic tahini yogurt
• Hot chutney whole roasted cauliflower
• Creamy spinach and artichoke salmon skillet
• Shrimp and basil stir fry
• Thai green curry with herby chicken meatballs
• One pot creamy cajun orzo with shrimp

Aaaand other sides that go well with this broccoli:

• Gochujang roasted sweet potatoes
• Roasted gnocchi with lemon garlic brown butter
• 10-minute sauteed kale
• Roasted artichoke and marinated white bean salad
• Brussels cauliflower rice

Print