What is broccolini?
One vegetable my kids thoroughly enjoy is broccolini. More slender than regular broccoli, broccolini has smaller florets and long stalks that crisp up nicely in the oven. I like to roast it with olive, salt and pepper, and garnish with a squeeze of lemon and lots of freshly shaved parmesan. The kids chow it down within minutes. Now that’s the way to a mother’s heart!
I am celebrating broccolini and radishes with this recipe – Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde.
The ways I enjoy radish
Radishes have an acquired taste. I personally was not a fan for many years, well into my adult life. I would only eat radish in the form of a stuffed paratha (or flatbread) that is popular in India called Mooli Paratha. But I started enjoying radish in pickled forms as side dishes in Mexican cuisine or in the Vietnamese sandwiches known as banh mi.
Different kinds of radish
A few years ago, the pretty colors of a watermelon radish caught my eye at the farmers market. With greenish white skin and the most beautiful shade of pink on the inside, this springtime variety of radish is sweet with a slight kick. I was hooked. My favorite combination is having thin slices of watermelon radish with guacamole instead of tortilla chips — a healthy and delicious way to snack. My other go-to is the purple daikon radish, which has a violet exterior and bright white-to-pale purple interior.
Ingredients of the Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde
The ingredients of the Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde are:
- Vegetables like broccolini and radish
- Sumac: is a crimson red Middle Eastern spice that adds a tangy lemony flavor.
- Smoked paprika
The ingredients for the salsa verde are:
- Herbs like basil, parsley (or cilantro), chives, fresh oregano : You can use herbs of your choice as well if you do not like a particular herb or you are unable to get your hands on them.
- Red wine vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic cloves
Where can I purchase sumac and smoked paprika from?
Sumac and smoked paprika are both available online, or you can find them at local grocery stores as well. Sumac is available here and Smoked Paprika is available here.
How do I start off making Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde?
Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde starts off by roasting the broccolini and radishes in the oven with spices like smoked paprika and sumac. Roasting radish brings out its hidden sweetness, while sumac, a crimson red Middle Eastern spice, adds a tangy lemony flavor.
What is salsa verde?
In the meantime, we make the salsa verde. Salsa verde is a bright, fresh, bold sauce that is quite flexible in terms of its ingredients. I use cilantro, basil, chives and oregano as the herbs, along with red wine vinegar, dijon mustard and extra-virgin olive oil.
Can I make modifications to the salsa verde? How else can I use it?
Feel free to make tweaks based on what you have on hand, and use this sauce for other dishes, like in simple vegetable sandwiches.
Here, the sauce is added to Greek yogurt to form a base. The roasted vegetables are layered on top, and more salsa verde is drizzled on the vegetables. The dish gets a finishing touch of chopped pistachios for crunch.
Serve this dish immediately as a side, though I personally love it as a meal by itself, especially when you want something quick and light.
How can I store the leftovers for the Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde?
The vegetables can be picked with tongs and placed in a container, and the yogurt can be placed in a small container separately, both in the fridge. It can be kept for an additional day. Serve at room temperature.
Other spring recipes to try from my blog:
- Spring Green Soup
- Artichoke Green Peas and California Ripe Olives Pasta
- Green Pea and Green Garlic Masala Puffs
If you do make this recipe, please do not forget to tag #thejamlab on Instagram and/or leave a comment on this blog post.
XO
Amisha
Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde
Ingredients
Roasted vegetables
- 8 ounces broccolini
- 8 to 10 radishes, cut in half or in quarters
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
Salsa Verde
- 1 cup basil, tightly packed
- 1 cup cilantro or parsley, tightly packed
- ½ cup roughly chopped chives
- ½ cup fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
Assembly
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Salsa Verde
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pistachios
Get Recipe Ingredients
Method:
Roast the vegetables
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the broccolini and radishes onto a sheet pan. Add the olive oil, salt, pepper, sumac and smoked paprika, and toss with your hands to distribute evenly.
- Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, until lightly charred.
Make the Salsa Verde
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor, and blend until almost smooth. Place in a bowl and set aside.
To assemble
- In a separate bowl, add the yogurt, salt and lemon juice. Mix well to combine. Add 1 teaspoon salsa verde and mix until just combined.
- On a platter, add spoonfuls of the yogurt and create swirls. Add a few dollops of the salsa verde, and gently mix into the yogurt. Do not overmix; you want to see distinct patches of white and green.
- Place the vegetables on top of the yogurt.
- Dollop some more of the salsa verde on top of the vegetables. Garnish with pistachios.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Where can I purchase sumac and smoked paprika from?
- Sumac and smoked paprika are both available online, or you can find them at local grocery stores as well. Sumac is available here and Smoked Paprika is available here.
How do I start off making Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde?
- Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde starts off by roasting the broccolini and radishes in the oven with spices like smoked paprika and sumac. Roasting radish brings out its hidden sweetness, while sumac, a crimson red Middle Eastern spice, adds a tangy lemony flavor.
What is salsa verde?
- Salsa verde is a bright, fresh, bold sauce that is quite flexible in terms of its ingredients. I use cilantro, basil, chives and oregano as the herbs, along with red wine vinegar, dijon mustard and extra-virgin olive oil.
Can I make modifications to the salsa verde? How else can I use it?
- Feel free to make tweaks based on what you have on hand, and use this sauce for other dishes, like in simple vegetable sandwiches.
How can I store the leftovers for the Roasted Broccolini and Radish with Salsa Verde?
- The vegetables can be picked with tongs and placed in a container, and the yogurt can be placed in a small container separately, both in the fridge. It can be kept for an additional day. Serve at room temperature.
