Broccoli is one those vegetables you either love or hate. I happen to love the stuff and often eat it steamed with just a little olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt. To my utter joy Hoover has been eating 'little trees' ever since she started on solid food. Fussy on the other hand protests furiously over anything slightly green, so you can imagine the histrionics that take place at our house over broccoli.

I suppose I should be grateful that at least I have one child that eats everything and when I say everything, I mean pretty much everything.

So the other day when I made this chargrilled broccoli with chilli and lemon for Huxley and I to have with our chicken schnitzel, I was completely gobsmacked when Hoover decided to try 'our' broccoli. Not only did she try it, she loved it and proceeded to shove whole florets into her mouth chilli and all. Fussy on the other hand - well he pretty much continues to live up to his name.



Chargrilled Broccoli with Garlic, Lemon & Chilli

Adapted from Ottolenghi the Cookbook (2008)

 
Ingredients

500g of broccoli, divided into florets

4-6 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

2-3 mild red chillies, thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt & freshly ground pepper

 
Method
 
1. Blanch the broccoli in a large pot of boiling water for no longer than two minutes. Once done, toss the broccoli in a little olive oil and season to taste. Grill the broccoli on a ridged griddle pan in small batches.



2. While the broccoli is grilling place the olive oil, garlic and chilli in a separate pan and cook until the garlic begins to turn golden. Pour the olive oil, chilli and garlic over the hot broccoli and gently toss. Season to taste and serve warm with lemon slices.