Description
Jamie oliver’s broccoli bake combines creamy cheese sauce with tender broccoli florets in a comforting casserole. Simple ingredients and quick preparation make this dish perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something deliciously satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups (1.25 lbs/567 g) broccoli florets, coarsely chopped
- 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) non-fat milk
- ½ cup (50 g) extra sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- ¾ cup (60 g) panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 3 tbsps (42 g) unsalted butter, divided
- ¼ cup (30 g) white whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp dry mustard
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Crank the oven to 400°F (204°C), positioning the rack in the center for optimal heat distribution.
- Cheese Crumb Topping: Blend Panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in a mixing bowl, creating a crisp, savory coating that will crown the dish.
- Broccoli Blanching: Plunge broccoli florets into boiling water for 3 minutes, achieving a vibrant green color and tender-crisp texture. Quickly drain and set aside.
- Roux Foundation: In an oven-safe skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in white whole wheat flour, cooking for one minute to develop a nutty, golden base.
- Sauce Development: Stream milk into the roux, stirring continuously to create a silky, lump-free sauce. Introduce salt, ground mustard, black pepper, and cayenne for a flavor-packed profile.
- Cheese Integration: Remove from heat and fold in shredded cheese until completely melted, forming a luxurious, creamy sauce.
- Broccoli Combination: Gently incorporate blanched broccoli into the cheese sauce, ensuring each floret is generously coated with the rich mixture.
- Final Assembly: Spread the broccoli-cheese blend evenly in the skillet, then generously sprinkle the prepared Panko-Parmesan topping across the surface.
- Baking Finale: Slide the skillet into the preheated oven, baking for 20-25 minutes until the topping turns golden and crispy. For an extra-crisp finish, broil for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Notes
- Optimize Blanching: Precisely time broccoli cooking to maintain vibrant color and crisp-tender texture without overcooking.
- Prevent Lumpy Sauce: Whisk flour and butter consistently, then add milk gradually to ensure a silky, smooth cheese sauce.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove skillet from heat when incorporating cheese to prevent separation and achieve creamy consistency.
- Crispy Topping Trick: Watch closely during broiling to achieve golden-brown crunch without burning the breadcrumb layer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg