Beef Free Lemon & Olive Oil Broccoli Mash
Bright, garlicky, and finished with a hit of lemon, this broccoli mash is the kind of side dish that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about vegetables. Steaming the florets and stems together until completely tender is the key move here — it gives you that silky, mashable texture without any added dairy or butter weighing things down. Garlic-infused olive oil does the heavy lifting on flavor, and a pinch of turmeric adds a warm, golden hue that makes the whole bowl look as good as it tastes. The lemon zest and fresh juice cut right through the richness, keeping every bite feeling light and vibrant. It works beautifully as a base for roasted vegetables, a scoop alongside grilled fish, or honestly just eaten straight from the bowl with a good piece of crusty bread. Everything here is naturally plant-based and built from whole, simple ingredients, so there's nothing to second-guess — just a genuinely satisfying dish that comes together with minimal effort and maximum payoff.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 lbs broccoli (about 2 medium heads), cut into florets, stems peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli florets and chopped stems, cover, and steam until completely tender and a fork slides through the thickest stem piece with no resistance, 10–12 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander and let sit for 1 minute to allow excess steam to escape.
- 2
While the broccoli steams, warm the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
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