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    Home » Classic Italian

    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    Published: Mar 6, 2025 by Angela and Mark · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    We love the taste of tender broccolini and it is one of our most-used vegetables. But why not spice it up in an Italian way with some Calabrian Chili pepper paste and brighten it up with some lemon zest? This will enlighten your taste buds and it pairs well with any protein. The char on the broccolini comes from pan searing it and this gives it a nice flavor and texture. Even better, this Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini is a simple side dish to make and can even be made in advanced then charred with the final touches right before serving!

    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    Looking for more dishes like this? Try out our Balsamic Green Beans with Sliced Almonds or Easy Sautéed Balsamic Asparagus with Parmesan.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love this Recipe
    • What is broccolini?
    • Are Calabrian chili peppers Italian?
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • How to Make Calabrian Chili Broccolini
    • Equipment
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Top Tip
    • Troubleshooting
    • What to serve with Calabrian Chili Broccolini
    • What Wines To Drink with Calabrian Chili Broccolini
    • Mangiamo Cookbook
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You’ll Love this Recipe

    • Very easy to bring together
    • Broccolini are very delicious and easy to prepare
    • Adds a little spice and liveliness to your vegetables!
    • This dish goes with just about any protein you serve

    What is broccolini?

    Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It is thinner, has more individual stalks, and tastes slightly sweeter than broccoli. It is sometimes referred to as "baby broccoli" but this is a misnomer. We actually prefer it to regular broccoli and it is one of the vegetables that we make the most.

    Are Calabrian chili peppers Italian?

    They are Italian from the southern province of Calabria. This is the “toe” of the Italian peninsula in a warm Mediterranean climate. Calabrian chilis are a variety of red pepper and have a nice bright flavor that is slightly fruity with a decent amount of heat. They are medium-hot on the Scoville scale, similar to cayenne pepper (hotter than jalapeños, but not as hot as habanero peppers).

    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    Ingredients

    This broccolini recipe only has 5 simple ingredients. Here is what you need to make this recipe:

    • Broccolini: This tender sweet broccoli hybrid is one of our favorite vegetables. It is easy to find in the grocery store.
    • Unsalted Butter: Butter gives the chili paste something to be saucy with and provides a rich, flavorful final dish.
    • Calabrian Chili Paste: We use this one, but other brands are perfectly good as well. 
    • Kosher Salt: Just a touch to taste and more to blanch the broccolini
    • Lemon Zest: A little lemon zest thrown in there near the end of cooking brightens up the dish and provides a nice contrast to the buttery spiciness.

    See recipe card below for quantities.

    Substitutions

    Here are a couple of common substitutions for the ingredients in this recipe:

    • Calabrian Chili Paste: Sambal Olek can be used in its place and is probably the best substitution here.
    • Lemon Zest: Citrus has a definite place at the table here, but you could use orange, lime, or grapefruit zest instead of lemon.

    How to Make Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    This simple charred broccolini recipe starts with a quick blanching of the broccolini. Then into the pan with the butter and Calabrian chili paste and finished off with a touch of salt and lemon zest. Easy, just a few ingredients, and a bunch of flavor!

    Equipment

    Here is what you need to make this dish

    • Large pot to blanch the broccolini
    • Large bowl
    • Large skillet or saute pan to cook the dish
    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Blanch and Shock the Broccolini

    • In a large bowl, fill about ⅔ the way with ice water. In a large pot of boiling water that has been salted (about 2 tablespoon of salt for 6 quarts of water), add the broccolini for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Remove to the ice water to stop the cooking process. When cooled, about 3 minutes, remove the broccolini from the ice water and pat dry with a paper towel - especially the florets. Set aside at room temp until ready to sauté, or place in the fridge if making these in advance.

    Sauté the Broccolini with the Sauce

    • In a large skillet on high heat, add the butter and Calabrian chili paste. Once the butter is foaming, add the broccolini and cook, moving the broccolini around to coat with the sauce. Cook until the stalks of the broccolini are tender but firm (1-2 minutes) or to your liking with a nice char on the top of the broccolini florets. 

    Finish with Kosher Salt and Lemon Zest

    • Right before the broccoli is done, add the kosher salt and lemon zest. Stir well and cook for 15 seconds. Remove from the heat and serve! 

    Variations

    Here are a couple ways to change up this recipe:

    • You could make the same dish with cauliflower with excellent results
    • Make it a meal and add a variety of vegetables to the mix and just double the butter and chili paste. Mushrooms, onions, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, and boiled small potatoes are all great candidates for this.
    • Mix the broccolini into cooked pasta for a spicy and easy broccolini pasta dish.

    Storage

    How to store leftover broccolini:

    • Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    How to reheat leftover broccolini:

    • Reheat this dish over medium-low heat in a skillet on the stovetop until warmed through.

    Can you freeze leftover broccolini?

    The texture suffers too much for this to be a recommendation, and since it is so easy to prepare, freezing isn't necessary.

    Top Tip

    If you have varying sizes of broccolini stalks, before blanching, slice the largest ones lengthwise an inch or two long (without cutting the whole piece in half). This will help evenly cook all broccolini.

    Troubleshooting

    Don’t skip the step of shocking the broccolini in a bowl of ice water. You don’t want to overcook it as you have to char it in the skillet as well, and shocking it in ice water stops the cooking process.

    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    What to serve with Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    This dish is great served with a variety of proteins. It works with almost anything, from a ribeye or filet mignon, to larger cuts of meat and roasts, to chicken dishes and a variety of seafood dishes like cod or a grilled salmon steak. There really isn’t anything it won’t complement and is one of our favorite additions to any meal.

    What Wines To Drink with Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    A somewhat spicy and flavorful dish like this is great with a lively white wine like pinot grigio or vermentino. But as always, if this dish is a complimentary one to a protein, it is best to match the wine to that main star of the dish!

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    FAQ

    Broccoli rabe vs broccolini?

    These are sometimes confused, but they are definitely different. Broccoli rabe is more leafy and has a relatively assertive and bitter flavor. Much like bitter greens, depending on their preparation, they can be delicious. Broccolini are more tender, sweeter and less leafy than broccoli rabe.

    Is it best to blanch broccolini?

    We usually blanch broccolini briefly for a perfect cook. Additionally, blanching broccolini helps enhance its bright green color. Sometimes we do not blanch broccolini, but it depends on what you are trying to achieve! We wouldn’t blanch it if we are marinating it, or using it in a stir-fry, for instance.

    Calabrian chili paste vs sambal oelek?

    These are similarly made chili pastes, but with completely different chilies and from very different locations. Calabrian chili paste is made with (of course) Calabrian chilies from Italy as well as other very subtle ingredients. It is fiery with hints of sweetness, fruitiness and freshness. Sambal oelek is an Indonesian chili paste of similar heat (generally) but made with regional peppers. Sambal oelek often has a more pronounced vinegar taste to it.

    Related

    Looking for other side dishes like this? Try these:

    • Marinated artichoke hearts crostini
      Marinated Artichoke Hearts Crostini - Easy Appetizer Recipe
    • Spring Gnocchi with Sugar Snap Peas and Dill Cream Sauce
      Spring Gnocchi with Sugar Snap Peas and Dill Cream Sauce
    • Spinach Artichoke Risotto with Creamy Mascarpone Cheese
      Spinach Artichoke Risotto with Creamy Mascarpone Cheese
    • Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Homemade Romesco
      Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Homemade Romesco

    Pairing

    These are our favorite main dishes to serve with this recipe:

    • Cheesy Pistachio Pesto Chicken with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
      Cheesy Pistachio Pesto Chicken with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
    • Braised Veal Shanks Ossobuco
      Braised Veal Shanks with Gremolata (Ossobuco Recipe)
    • Chicken with Mushroom Marsala Sauce (Pollo al Marsala)
      Chicken with Mushroom Marsala Sauce (Pollo al Marsala)
    • Bone-In Veal Milanese (Cotoletta alla Milanese)
      Bone-In Veal Milanese Recipe (Cotoletta alla Milanese)

    📖 Recipe

    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

    An easy to make charred broccolini recipe with the perfect amount of heat from Calabrian chili pepper paste!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 78 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Large pot for blanching
    • 1 Large bowl for the ice bath
    • 1 Large skillet or sauté pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz broccolini
    • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 Tablespoon Calabrian Chili Paste
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest zest of one small lemon
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, fill about ⅔ the way with ice water. In a large pot of boiling water that has been salted (about 2 tablespoon of salt for 6 quarts of water), add the broccolini for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Remove to the ice water to stop the cooking process. When cooled, about 3 minutes, remove the broccolini from the ice water and pat dry with a paper towel - especially the florets. Set aside at room temp until ready to sauté, or place in the fridge if making these in advance.
      8 oz broccolini
    • In a large skillet on high heat, add the butter and Calabrian chili paste. Once the butter is foaming, add the broccolini and cook, moving the broccolini around to coat with the sauce. Cook until the stalks of the broccolini are tender but firm (1-2 minutes) or to your liking with a nice char on the top of the broccolini florets.
      2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 Tablespoon Calabrian Chili Paste
    • Right before the broccoli is done, add the kosher salt and lemon zest. Stir well and cook for 15 seconds. Remove from the heat and serve!
      ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 Tablespoon lemon zest

    Notes

    How to store leftover broccolini:
    • Store in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    How to reheat leftover broccolini:
    • Reheat this dish over medium-low heat in a skillet on the stovetop until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 78kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 309mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1184IUVitamin C: 55mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword brocolini, calabrian chili, spicy
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Spicy Charred Calabrian Chili Broccolini

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    Classically trained chef, Mark, and wife and food photographer, Angela, are the cooking duo behind Cooking with Wine! Our goal is to create delicious and approachable recipes that you can make at home. We strive to make every meal special!

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