Charred Broccolini Salad (Printable Version)

Air-fried broccolini with garlic chips, lemon zest, and Parmesan delivers a crisp, tangy, and savory dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 14 oz broccolini, trimmed
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

→ Seasonings & Flavor

04 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
05 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
06 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Cheese

08 - 1.5 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated

→ Garnish

09 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)
10 - Extra lemon wedges, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
02 - Toss broccolini with 1.5 tbsp olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
03 - Arrange broccolini in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking halfway through, until charred and tender.
04 - Heat remaining 0.5 tbsp olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic slices and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
05 - Transfer warm broccolini to a serving platter. Drizzle lemon juice, sprinkle lemon zest, and toss gently.
06 - Scatter garlic chips and Parmesan cheese over broccolini. Add red pepper flakes and toasted pine nuts if desired.
07 - Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 25 minutes, which means weeknight dinner just became a lot easier.
  • The contrast between charred edges and tender florets gives you that textural satisfaction that keeps you coming back for more.
  • Lemony, garlicky, and cheesy in all the right ways without ever feeling heavy.
02 -
  • Don't skip the lemon juice at the end—it's not a garnish, it's the thing that ties the whole dish together and prevents it from tasting one-dimensional.
  • Garlic sliced thinner than you think you need will actually be the right thickness for crispy chips instead of burnt pieces.
03 -
  • Make the garlic chips first and let them cool on paper towels while you air fry the broccolini—this way everything comes together hot and fresh.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, start checking at the 6-minute mark to make sure you get char without going too far.
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