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Spicy Pan-Roasted Broccoli with Hoisin and Peanuts

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 as a side dish

Spicy Pan-Roasted Broccoli with Hoisin and Peanuts

Ingredients

For Sauce

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)1 teaspoon packed brown sugar (light or dark)¾ teaspoon Asian chili sauce

For Broccoli

3 tablespoons water ¼ teaspoon table salt ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 ¾ pounds broccoli, florets cut into 1 ½-inch pieces, stems trimmed, peeled, and cut on bias into ¼-inch-thick slices about 1 ½ inches long (about 5 cups florets and ¾ cup stems)
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves 2 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts

Before You Begin

Avoid buying broccoli with stalks that have dry cracks or that bend easily or with florets that are yellow or brown. If your broccoli stalks are especially thick, split them in half lengthwise before slicing.

Instructions

  1. Stir together peanut butter, hoisin sauce, lime juice, garlic, brown sugar, and chili sauce in medium bowl until combined; set aside.
  2. Stir water, salt, and pepper together in small bowl until salt dissolves; set aside. In 12-inch nonstick skillet with tight-fitting lid, heat oil over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke. Add broccoli stems in even layer and cook, without stirring, until browned on bottoms, about 2 minutes. Add florets to skillet and toss to combine; cook, without stirring, until bottoms of florets just begin to brown, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
  3. Add water mixture and cover skillet; cook until broccoli is bright green but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until water has almost evaporated, broccoli stems are tender, and florets are tender-crisp, about 1 minute more. Add basil and cook, stirring, until leaves wilt, about 30 seconds. Add peanut butter mixture and toss until broccoli is evenly coated and heated through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to serving dish, top with chopped peanuts, and serve immediately.
Spicy Pan-Roasted Broccoli with Hoisin and Peanuts

Spicy Pan-Roasted Broccoli with Hoisin and Peanuts

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 as a side dish

Ingredients

For Sauce

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon packed brown sugar (light or dark)
¾ teaspoon Asian chili sauce

For Broccoli

3 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon table salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ¾ pounds broccoli, florets cut into 1 ½-inch pieces, stems trimmed, peeled, and cut on bias into ¼-inch-thick slices about 1 ½ inches long (about 5 cups florets and ¾ cup stems)
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

For Sauce

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon packed brown sugar (light or dark)
¾ teaspoon Asian chili sauce

For Broccoli

3 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon table salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ¾ pounds broccoli, florets cut into 1 ½-inch pieces, stems trimmed, peeled, and cut on bias into ¼-inch-thick slices about 1 ½ inches long (about 5 cups florets and ¾ cup stems)
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

For Sauce

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon packed brown sugar (light or dark)
¾ teaspoon Asian chili sauce

For Broccoli

3 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon table salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ¾ pounds broccoli, florets cut into 1 ½-inch pieces, stems trimmed, peeled, and cut on bias into ¼-inch-thick slices about 1 ½ inches long (about 5 cups florets and ¾ cup stems)
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

The first step to perfecting our pan-roasted broccoli recipe was to transform a head of broccoli into pieces that would cook evenly. First, we trimmed the florets into small pieces and the stalks into oblong coins. Then we layered the stems evenly in a hot, lightly oiled skillet, and once they began to brown we added the florets along with seasoned water and allowed the mixture to steam until nearly tender.

Before You Begin

Avoid buying broccoli with stalks that have dry cracks or that bend easily or with florets that are yellow or brown. If your broccoli stalks are especially thick, split them in half lengthwise before slicing.

Instructions

  1. Stir together peanut butter, hoisin sauce, lime juice, garlic, brown sugar, and chili sauce in medium bowl until combined; set aside.
  2. Stir water, salt, and pepper together in small bowl until salt dissolves; set aside. In 12-inch nonstick skillet with tight-fitting lid, heat oil over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke. Add broccoli stems in even layer and cook, without stirring, until browned on bottoms, about 2 minutes. Add florets to skillet and toss to combine; cook, without stirring, until bottoms of florets just begin to brown, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
  3. Add water mixture and cover skillet; cook until broccoli is bright green but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until water has almost evaporated, broccoli stems are tender, and florets are tender-crisp, about 1 minute more. Add basil and cook, stirring, until leaves wilt, about 30 seconds. Add peanut butter mixture and toss until broccoli is evenly coated and heated through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to serving dish, top with chopped peanuts, and serve immediately.

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