Citric Acid Free Lemon & Olive Oil Broccoli Mash
Bright, garlicky, and deeply satisfying, this broccoli mash is the kind of side dish that quietly steals the show at the dinner table. The combination of garlic-infused olive oil, lemon zest, and a touch of turmeric gives it a warmth and complexity that feels far more indulgent than the ingredient list suggests. For anyone navigating a citric acid sensitivity, the tricky part with recipes like this is usually the sourcing — processed lemon products and bottled juices often contain added citric acid as a preservative, but this dish calls only for fresh lemon zest and fresh lemon juice, keeping everything clean and straightforward. Steaming the broccoli until completely tender is the key step here, making it easy to mash to whatever texture you prefer, whether that's a rustic, chunky consistency or a silkier purée. The garlic is cooked gently in olive oil just until fragrant, never browned, so it stays mellow and sweet rather than sharp. A final drizzle of good olive oil and a scatter of fresh parsley pull the whole thing together into something that looks as good as it tastes.
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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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