AMAZING BROCCOLI STEAKS W/ RED CHILI SAMBAL ROMESCO

AMAZING BROCCOLI STEAKS W/ RED CHILI SAMBAL ROMESCO

I CAN’T DECIDE WHETHER I WANT THIS, OR A BEEF BURGER FOR DINNER.

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME?!

I think as far as being an honest and balanced recipe-curator goes, since the day I publicly checked a carrot gingerbread cake w/ cardamon frosting and fried gingers and mashed potato butter-aioli into the category of “vegetables” without changing a shade, my failure in this aspect has been pretty self-explanatory.  It’s not that I deliberately faked the book, because after all, technically, there were credible amounts of vegetables in all those recipes.  Two whole carrots in that cake, no kidding!  But it doesn’t help covering the obvious that truth is, I don’t… believe in vegetables.  I mean I know they’re real, like real corns in my Doritos and whatnots, but the last time I actually felt it was when a tub of poutine from Montreal was eyeing me from the bar, and even that turned out to be a little disappointment.

But don’t you dare think that I haven’t sacrificed anything as a vegetable-doubter in my whole existence so far.  Besides a pouch of cottage cheese-like substance I carry around my waist and thighs at all times, it is also with tremendous sadness that I say, I could never have a mini pet-pig named Chicharron (my hypothetical pet-pig name).  You know what happens when you name a pig – well bye bye, pork.  Nor can I have a sheep named Ricotta, or a cow named Gelato…  My fantastic farm-dream, gone, all because spinach can’t agree with me.  So all these years, I suffered, I really did.  But just like that, as if someone heard my misery, in an unexpected morning just like any other, this reluctant doubter crashed into her veggie-calling like being hit by a double-decker bus when I saw this dish on the Deb’s Instagram.  Thing is, you see, this would the second time that I was going to make something inspired by her IG, which was starting to feel a bit stalker-like, so naturally, I resisted, I really did.  I mean, treating broccoli with the kind of substantial respect it isn’t normally granted, kind of like the cauliflower steaks, I guess, can be good, but let’s not appear to be too desperate yet.  So I dug my head into making my first blog-video ever, or perfecting that recipe that didn’t seem to want to stop getting better, all but just avoiding the inevitable that on Saturday, a head of broccoli miraculously appearing in my fridge out of the blue.  I’ve got no clue who put it there but I guess I had to cook it.

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Well the pros and cons about imagining a recipe purely based a glimpse, is always that A) You’re flying blind, but B) Flying blind might land you somewhere unexpectedly beautiful.  What would I do (I pondered as I Googled the nearest micro pig-breeder…) if I were to roast a whole head of broccoli?  Coated in extra virgin olive oil, rubbed with sea salt and cracked pepper, the standard stuff.  But I think I would half the broccoli, quarter even, depending on its size, to expand the flat surfaces that could acquire the maximum browning.  Then instead of shaved cheese and vinaigrette, the dish reminded me of the Catalonian festival where they dip the deeply charred spring onions in to roasted pepper romeso sauce.  But of course in this case, not just roasted pepper, but blackend and peeled red hot chilli, a Southeast Asian sambal and romesco-hybrid blended with garlic, ginger, fish sauce, Dijon and white wine vinegar for acidity, and blanched almonds for body.

I’m not even kidding.  The result shattered my doubter’s believe-system.  How could it be so good?  The deeply caramelised surfaces of the broccoli, tempting from the start with its transformed earthiness through the escaping heat of the oven, almost tasted like roasted seaweed or mushrooms with that fifth umami-ness.  The lightly sea salted fleshes were tender but still firm, with the charred florets and burnt bits, already a satisfactory result for any veggie-doubters.  But when you smudge a dollop of that red chilli sambal romesco on the top… when you smudge a good, big dollop of that burning, tangy and savoury red chilli sambal romesco on top…, it was a moment that could only be described as, the moment I found Veggiesus Christ.  I can’t tell you enough how the fish sauce, the heat, the faint ginger-ness and Dijon, transformed this well-meaning Spanish romesco into a sharp-tongued and addictive character.  I mean, even now, three days after we’ve been eating this straight, I still can’t quite decide whether I want it again, or switch to a beef burger for dinner.  What’s happening to me?!  Jason just said, “I can eat this everyday.”  What’s happening to us!

Chicharron, I can almost hear you squeal.

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AMAZING BROCCOLI STEAKS W/ RED CHILLI SAMBAL ROMESCO

Ingredients

    RED CHILLI SAMBAL ROMESCO:
  • 20~22 (220 grams) Asian long red chilli
  • 4 tbsp (42 grams) blanched almonds, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 tsp (7 grams) ginger
  • 4 tbsp (54 grams) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp fish sauce
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • BROCCOLI STEAK:
  • 1 head of broccoli
  • 2~3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt and pepper to season

Instructions

  1. TO MAKE THE RED CHILLI SAMBAL ROMESCO: Lightly toast the blanched almonds in a skillet over medium heat until slightly browned, then set aside. Over open flames or with a blow-torch, char the surface of the red chilli until thoroughly blackened (the more thorough you do this, the easier it is to peel), then wait until cool enough to handle. Hold the stem of the chilli with one hand, then scrape the blackened skin off with a small knife on the other hand. Make a small slit at the tip of the chilli, then scrape gently to push the seeds out. It's ok if there are small bits of burnt skin or seeds left here and there. Transfer all the skinned chilli into a blender, along with almonds, garlic, ginger, olive oil, fish sauce, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar and honey. Blend until smooth, then set aside in a jar. Can be kept in the fridge for several days.
  2. TO MAKE BROCCOLI STEAK: Preheat the oven on 445 F/230 C. Wash the broccoli then trim off the dried tip at the bottom of the stem. Use a vegetable-peeler to remove the fibrous skins along the stems and exterior branches, until you see tender fleshes. Find a good symmetrical angle, then cut the broccoli in half, or quarter, whatever you prefer, then set aside in an oven-proof skillet. Drizzle 2~3 tbsp of olive oil into the florets of the broccoli, then over the branches/stem to coat. Lightly season all over with salt and pepper (don't over-salt because the sauce is already salty), then place them with the cut-side down.
  3. Set the skillet over medium-high heat and brown the cut-side for a few min to give them a head-start. Leave the broccoli with the cut-side down still, then transfer into the oven to roast for 8~9 min. Turn the broccoli over with the cut-side facing up (the cut-side should be deeply caramelied by this point), and roast for another 8~9 until tender. Serve immediately with lots and lots of red chilli sambal romesco.
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23 Comments
  • Jessica

    09.21.2015at9:56 PM Reply

    I hope we get more of Veggiesus Christ going forward!! This looks crazy good / sinful … but it’s broccoli!! Trying this ASAP!

  • Lali

    09.21.2015at10:09 PM Reply

    YES. Roasted broccoli is my daily lunch. Typically: roasted broccoli, a thick smear of sambal and a thick smear of kewpie, some sort of smoked cheese, crushed salt & vinegar chips all between ciabatta.

    • tunie

      09.22.2015at6:06 AM Reply

      Ha, skip the red bells and go straight to chili instead. Of course ; )

    • tunie

      09.22.2015at6:07 AM Reply

      Also, wow, Lali…sounds awfully good.

  • Amber Harding

    09.21.2015at10:26 PM Reply

    Yeah, as Lali said, make a veggie burger, not a beef one :)

  • Magda | My Little Expat Kitchen

    09.21.2015at11:06 PM Reply

    You are so imaginative and talented, Mandy. I appreciate all that you offer us here on your blog. This recipe looks absolutely fantastic! I love broccolo and I can’t wait to make this. Thanks!

  • J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats

    09.21.2015at11:10 PM Reply

    I like how you can see someones toes in the picture of the broccoli in the pan. Also the addition of fish sauce to romesco sauce.

  • Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar

    09.22.2015at12:49 AM Reply

    I think all broccoli should be in steak form…or covered in cheese. I need these!!

  • Melinda

    09.22.2015at3:51 AM Reply

    Veggiesus!!!

  • Jess @ alittlealice.com

    09.22.2015at8:20 AM Reply

    Veggiesus is now looking to overtake Grilled Cheesus and I’m not even sad about it!!! :D

  • Em

    09.23.2015at4:22 AM Reply

    If we don’t have access to Asian long red chilis (fresh or dried), I feel like we could substitute sambal oelek or sriracha or gochujang, but do you think 2 tbsp or so would be sufficient for the total amount of sauce? This looks delicious! :)

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      09.24.2015at2:25 PM Reply

      Em, I would look for another red chilli to substitute first. Don’t have to be Asian, but you can try a mix of jalapeño and other less spicy varieties. If you use sambal oleic, gochujang or sriracha, you’ll have to omit the fish sauce cuz it’ll be too salty. I would try with 3 tbsp first :)

  • Katie @ Butterlust

    09.23.2015at8:11 AM Reply

    bahahahaha Veggiesus Christ. Chicharron. This was such a fun read!

  • Kath the Cook

    09.23.2015at12:09 PM Reply

    Your writing is so beautiful and truly entertaining… just really enjoy it.

    there is no way i’m going to put that many hot peppers in it, but i’m going to make it. i even did your smushed lamb burger – yummy

  • Laurie

    09.24.2015at4:22 AM Reply

    Hallelujah!!! Finally something to transform broccoli! I bet this would be delicious on Chicharron, also.

  • Sam @ SugarSpun

    09.24.2015at10:40 PM Reply

    Whenever my husband finds himself confronted with anything green as a dinner option he always refuses to take any on his plate, saying “What do I look like, a rabbit?”
    THIS, though… this recipe could just make even him embrace his Peter Cottontail/Hazel side.
    Seriously a remarkable transformation of broccoli, and wouldn’t you know it we have some broccoli in the fridge now…

  • Kara | Sorghum and Starch

    10.01.2015at8:11 AM Reply

    I never thought I’d be drooling over broccoli, but honestly Mandy, I’d eat anything that you make. This looks fantastic.

  • Lori

    10.03.2015at10:14 PM Reply

    I’d like to make this for our Canadian Thanksgiving, but would have to roast the broccoli ahead of time, would it stand up warmed later in the day?

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      10.04.2015at2:19 AM Reply

      Lori, I wouldn’t cook it ahead of time. This is definitely something that tastes best when it was just roasted out of the oven. I think cooked then reheated broccoli just doesn’t taste the same… But the sauce can definitely be made, perhaps better, the day before.

  • Angela

    10.10.2015at6:44 PM Reply

    Dang it. That sambal romesco. It’s one of the best chilli sauces I’ve ever tasted. My mind is going wild thinking of all the things I could use it with, not just broccoli. (Though that broccoli too…!)

  • Katie

    10.14.2015at11:40 PM Reply

    Hi Mandy – can’t wait to try this. Can you pls clarify if you mean 20-22″ pepper or does the 20~22 signify something else?

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      10.14.2015at11:46 PM Reply

      Katie, yes 21 to 22 long red chilis (not the small super spicy ones).

  • yvonne

    10.22.2015at12:02 PM Reply

    Omg thank you for this recipe. I made this tonight and it was beyond delicious. The sauce! I subbed a red bell pepper + a Thai red chili for the long red pepper because I had them on hand and it was perfect.

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