5 Ingredients or Fewer
Roy Finamore's Broccoli Cooked Forever
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41 Reviews
Plexia
May 31, 2024
This is a wonderful recipe as written, and is also really easy to adapt. I have added sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts to mine! I start it on the hob, but finish in an oven at 150, as other reviewers with gas burners have suggested. Great as a condiment (think tapanade), pasta sauce or (my fave) mixed with farro.
Jono
January 19, 2024
Brilliant. I find it easier to cook in an oven at 100 for two hours. No problem in catching etc etc. (Personally I double the anchovies as well). Works every way as a meal on its own and hot side or room temp salad.
MacGuffin
March 9, 2023
I can't do the anchovies but this looks fantastic. Given that at least one reviewer is having trouble with the bottom of the pan, I can use the Thermowell in my Chambers Range for a few hours.
Bryon P.
March 7, 2023
I have a gas stove and put the pan over the eye with the lowest possible flame. Even gently stirring it every 20 minutes did not stop the bottom from burning by the end of the first hour. I still love the idea of this recipe, but will probably have to experiment with putting the pan in the stove at a low heat after adding the broccoli and/or cauliflower. The temperature will be a trial and error process, so if you have a suggestion I'd love to hear it.
Plexia
May 31, 2024
I start mine in a pan on the stove using a very low heat, then transfer to a terracotta put in the toaster oven for two hours at 150, stirring very 30 minutes.
My sister just dumped hers into a slow cooker without frying first and it came out basically the same if not a little bit better.
My sister just dumped hers into a slow cooker without frying first and it came out basically the same if not a little bit better.
meghan
November 9, 2022
This may be my favorite recipe of all time, and I make it often. With that said, the recipe photo is deceiving—this is not a side dish. When cooked properly, the broccoli should completely break down, creating a rich, velvety condiment to toss with pasta or spread on toast. I add extra anchovies, use jarred Calabrian chiles for heat, don't bother slicing the garlic (it will break down with the broccoli anyway), and top with Pecorino Romano.
Alexandra
December 23, 2021
If you approach this as a condiment (for bread, pasta, etc.) and not as a side dish in its own right, it’s spectacular. I totally see how it would be too rich & texturally unappealing if served as a stand-alone part of a meal.
dymnyno
September 11, 2020
I was eager to try this as a green vegetable side to a beef tenderloin. It was a disappointment both visually and taste wise. Too soggy and had a terrible color!
EmilyC
July 14, 2017
Just made a delicious discovery when making a version of this. If you stick the broccoli under the broiler for a brief minute or two once it has cooked forever, the oil-plumped florets get dark and crispy, such a nice contrast to its fall-apart softness.
Georgia S.
October 20, 2016
The key to this recipe is the long slow cooking. Just like with onions, cooking slowly in oil allows more complex flavors to develop than you can get with fast cooking or boiling. If you stop after 20 min you will just have seasoned overcooked broccoli.
I used less oil. Anchovies just disintigrate and give rich umami. While it tastes amazing, it falls apart too much, so I will try the oven baking idea. The recipe says to cover the pan while cooking, but that seemed to trap too much steam, so I left the lid off part of the time. Finally, serve over pasta or bread with lean meat to balance the oil - and wine!
I used less oil. Anchovies just disintigrate and give rich umami. While it tastes amazing, it falls apart too much, so I will try the oven baking idea. The recipe says to cover the pan while cooking, but that seemed to trap too much steam, so I left the lid off part of the time. Finally, serve over pasta or bread with lean meat to balance the oil - and wine!
TeaForMe
December 22, 2015
I've made this about once a week since discovering the recipe! As others, I've shortened the cooking time and the quantity of olive oil. I have yet to try it with anchovies -- capers, a mix of olives and some rosemary for me.
Abigail O.
November 28, 2015
I have had this on my must try list for quite some time and just did. Even at a very, very low heat, my broccoli reached what I determined to be its peak doneness at around 1 hour and 20 minutes. I drained the broccoli very well, as it does absorb quite the good amount of oil then tossed with rigatoni pasta and parmesan cheese. It was absolutely delicious. I think on its own, as a side dish, the texture might be a bit too one note/overwhelming--but in a dish it is amazing. Crusty bread is up next and pizza. Love the recipe!
JBF O.
November 12, 2015
I just made this with much less oil and in much less time and it was delicious. I followed the recipe but only put about 1/3 cup of olive oil in the pan. I then cooked at the lowest heat for about 20-25 minutes. It was tender but did not completely fall apart. I can't imagine cooking it in 1 cup of oil and for 2 hours.
Transcendancing
October 15, 2015
I *loved* this! So much broccoli flavour, enhanced by the chilli and garlic and capers (taking another commenter's advice). Also having a gas stove, I used the oven to do my slow cooking component. The result was gloriously soft broccli and flavourful oil - I used it on homemade pizza bases, topped with fresh buffalo mozarella just as it came out of the oven. And wow! What an amazing pizza dinner it was! Some of the best homemade pizza we've had - and we have high standards by now. Worth considering to serve this delicious dish :)
Penny L.
May 23, 2015
I made this once with broccoli and it was delicious, although a bit mushy.
Has anyone made this recipe using green beans? It seems like the same 'cooked too long' quality that this recipe takes advantage of for broccoli applies to green beans as well. They wouldn't melt in quite the same way but it could form a confit.
Has anyone made this recipe using green beans? It seems like the same 'cooked too long' quality that this recipe takes advantage of for broccoli applies to green beans as well. They wouldn't melt in quite the same way but it could form a confit.
beejay45
May 22, 2015
I've got to say I don't get the draw on this, but I suppose not many would adore my oven charred asparagus in olive oil, garlic and sea salt either. ;) Like my broccoli bright green and tender crisp. This just seems like it relies on externals for flavor. Now cauliflower...
Melissa
May 21, 2015
Yummy- I slathered it on bread with some Parmesan and hot pepper flakes. It reminds me of Marcella Hazan's smothered cabbage soup.
Mine started to stick to the pan a bit after about 1/2 hour, so I finished the last 1 1/2 hours in a 225 degree oven.
Mine started to stick to the pan a bit after about 1/2 hour, so I finished the last 1 1/2 hours in a 225 degree oven.
Tonya
April 7, 2015
This dish was lovely. I did cook it in the oven, and it came out testing perfectly. Also reminded me of this dish — https://food52.com/recipes/31248-pasta-with-slow-cooked-cauliflower-anchovies-and-garlic
Ashley M.
October 11, 2014
I'm torn on this one but only because I think I didn't salt it enough and served it with something that was too "oily" (feta stuffed chicken breasts). I think ssjasaurus has the right idea with serving it on crusty bread. Perhaps with a salad or a lean steak? Definitely a recipe I'll revisit and experiment with!
soojasaurus
September 20, 2013
Basically I might have pushed this one two far, letting the broccoli basically fall apart. BUT it was just phenomenally delicious after I'd refrigerated it, letting the olive oil become more like butter and mushing it onto crusty bread, putting it in the oven with some sharp cheddar cheese. It was like the best version of broccoli and cheese, ever!
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