Grilled Broccoli with Bacon Vinaigrette
This grilled broccoli with the most delicious bacon vinaigrette is a great, gluten free side dish and perfect as an alternative to salad.
Ingredients
Grilled broccoli is a fantastic side dish any time of the year, but especially in summer when grilling is the name of the game. I often struggle to think of ways to incorporate vegetables into a summer meal that doesn’t involve a salad. Grilling your favorite veggies are a great way to introduce them to your meals when it’s warmer and encourages new ways of serving them. Plus, who doesn’t love that smoky flavor? This broccoli vinaigrette takes boring broccoli to new levels of awesomeness.
- Broccoli.
- Extra virgin Olive oil.
- Red onion.
- Garlic. I used fresh garlic cloves but garlic powder can be substituted.
- Bacon.
- Red wine vinegar. Lemon juice can be used instead.
- Honey – Maple syrup can be substituted.
- Fresh herbs. I used chives and parsley. Oregano and cilantro can be used too.
- Salt and pepper. Red pepper flakes / chilli flakes can also be used.
How to make grilled broccoli
- Make the vinaigrette:Â In a pan set over medium-high heat, cook the onion in the oil until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and bacon and cook until the bacon is crisp and the fat is rendered out. Depending on the amount of fat in the pan, you might need to remove a few tablespoons. Pour the red wine vinegar and honey into the pan and stir to combine. Add the parsley and chives and set aside.
- Prepare the broccoli: Slice the heads of broccoli into 2cm thick sliced. Drizzle a few teaspoons of olive oil over the broccoli and season with salt and pepper.You could do this same recipe with broccoli florets too. If you’re using large broccoli florets you might need to blanche the  broccoli in a large pot of salted water for 5 minutes before grilling.
- Grill the broccoli: Place the broccoli directly on preheated grill grates and cook over medium heat until caramelized and golden on both sides. The broccoli should be firm but tender. I used an outdoor grill but a grill pan works well too.
- Serve: Pour the vinaigrette over the broccoli while warm and serve.
How long to grill broccoli
Broccoli should take 4-5 mins per side over high heat to cook to al dente readiness.
Summer side dish recipes
I love grilling vegetables and these recipes all include a grilled element. Some of my favorite vegetables to grill are zucchini, potatoes, asparagus and eggplant.
- Easy grilled eggplant salad
- Corn and grilled zucchini salad
- Grilled potato salad with sour cream dressing
- Easy marinated eggplant
- Guacamole salad
Ingredients
For the bacon vinaigrette
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 10 strips bacon chopped
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1-2 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
For the broccoli
- 2 heads broccoli
- 2 tsp oil
Instructions
- In a pan set over medium-high heat, cook the onion in the oil until soft and translucent.
- Add the garlic and bacon and cook until the bacon is crisp and the fat is rendered out.
- Depending on the amount of fat in the pan, you might need to remove a few tablespoons.
- Pour the red wine vinegar and honey into the pan and stir to combine. Add the parsley and chives and set aside.
- Slice the heads of broccoli into 2cm thick sliced. Drizzle a few teaspoons of olive oil over the broccoli and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill the broccoli over high heat until caramelized and golden on both sides. The broccoli should be firm but not hard.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the broccoli while warm and serve.