Charred Broccolini Salad (Printable)

Air-fried broccolini with garlic chips, lemon zest, and Parmesan offers a fresh, savory dish perfect for any meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 14 oz broccolini, trimmed
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

→ Seasonings & Flavor

04 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
05 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
06 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Cheese

08 - 1.5 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated

→ Garnish

09 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)
10 - Extra lemon wedges, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Toss broccolini with 1.5 tablespoons olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
03 - Place broccolini in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, shaking halfway through, until charred and tender.
04 - Heat remaining 0.5 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic slices and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
05 - Transfer hot broccolini to a serving platter. Drizzle with lemon juice, sprinkle with lemon zest, and toss gently.
06 - Scatter garlic chips and Parmesan cheese over broccolini. Add red pepper flakes and toasted pine nuts if desired.
07 - Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The broccolini gets genuinely crispy on the edges while staying tender inside, something I struggled with for years in a regular oven.
  • It comes together in under 25 minutes, so it works as a weeknight side or part of an impressive dinner without stress.
  • The combination of textures—charred vegetable, crunchy garlic, creamy cheese—feels far more interesting than it sounds.
02 -
  • Don't skip shaking the basket halfway through cooking; the broccolini that stays pressed against the bottom won't char properly and will just steam.
  • The garlic can go from golden to burnt in about 30 seconds, so stay with the pan—turning your back for just a moment is how you end up with bitter, burnt chips that ruin the whole dish.
  • Timing matters less than watching for color; air fryers vary wildly, so trust your eyes over the clock and adjust future batches based on how your specific machine performs.
03 -
  • Pat the broccolini dry with paper towels after trimming—any excess moisture steals heat from the air fryer and prevents proper crisping.
  • Use a microplane for the lemon zest so you get the delicate, fragrant yellow bits without any of the bitter white pith that can lurk underneath.
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