Description
A vibrant and healthy Charred Broccolini Salad featuring tender, air-fried broccolini with crispy garlic chips, fresh lemon dressing, and a sprinkle of Parmesan and toasted pine nuts for added flavor and texture. Perfect as a light side dish or a refreshing starter.
Ingredients
Scale
Broccolini
- 14 oz broccolini, trimmed
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Lemon Dressing & Garnish
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1.5 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)
- Extra lemon wedges, for serving
Garlic Chips
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for about 3 minutes to ensure even cooking of the broccolini.
- Prepare Broccolini: Trim the broccolini and place it in a large bowl. Toss with 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly coated.
- Air-fry Broccolini: Arrange the broccolini in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote even charring, until the broccolini is tender and charred.
- Cook Garlic Chips: While the broccolini cooks, heat the remaining 0.5 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the slices turn golden and crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Dress Broccolini: Transfer the hot broccolini to a serving platter. Drizzle with lemon juice, sprinkle the lemon zest over, and toss gently to combine the flavors.
- Finish Salad: Scatter the crispy garlic chips and Parmesan cheese over the broccolini. If desired, add red pepper flakes for heat and sprinkle toasted pine nuts for crunch.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately with extra lemon wedges on the side for additional zest.
Notes
- For a nuttier flavor, toast the pine nuts just before adding them to the salad to enhance their aroma.
- If you prefer less heat, omit the red pepper flakes or reduce the quantity.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper charring of broccolini.
- Garlic chips can burn quickly; watch closely and stir frequently when frying.
- This salad is best served immediately to enjoy the crispness of the garlic and pine nuts.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
