J. Kenji López-Alt - Roasted Broccolini with Cheaty Chorizo Aioli | Kenji's Cooking Show
The video provides a step-by-step guide to preparing roasted broccolini with a chorizo aioli. The process begins by cutting broccolini into long stalks, ensuring the flower ends remain intact to prevent loss. The broccolini is then drizzled with olive oil, salt, MSG, and pepper before being roasted at 450°F until bright green and lightly charred. Meanwhile, a chorizo aioli is prepared using Spanish chorizo, which is dry-cured and similar to salami. The chorizo is sliced, cooked to render its fat, and combined with mayonnaise, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, and juice to create the aioli. The roasted broccolini is served with the aioli and crispy chorizo bits, offering a simple yet flavorful dish. The video also highlights the importance of roasting broccolini until it is dark brown to enhance its flavor and texture.
Key Points:
- Cut broccolini into long stalks, avoiding cutting the flower ends to prevent loss.
- Roast broccolini at 450°F until bright green and lightly charred for optimal flavor.
- Prepare chorizo aioli using Spanish chorizo, mayonnaise, garlic, olive oil, and lemon.
- Render chorizo fat to flavor the aioli, enhancing the dish's taste.
- Roast broccolini until dark brown for a crispy texture and rich flavor.
Details:
1. 🔪 Preparing Broccolini for Roasting
- Roasted broccolini serves as a quick and flavorful snack, perfect for various occasions.
- The preparation involves an aioli made with chiso (shiso) to enhance the flavor profile of the dish.
- Detailed steps include trimming the broccolini, tossing it with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roasting until tender and slightly crispy.
- For the aioli, blend chiso, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and garlic until smooth, offering a refreshing dip for the roasted broccolini.
2. 🌿 Seasoning and Roasting Broccolini
- Cut broccolini into long stocks, avoiding the flower ends to preserve florets.
- Season with olive oil, salt, and MSG for enhanced flavor.
- Preheat oven to 450°F; roast until broccolini is bright green and lightly charred.
- Roasting typically takes around 10-15 minutes.
- Serve immediately for best texture, or add lemon zest for a fresh finish.
3. 🥓 Making Chorizo Aioli
- Use Spanish chorizo, which is dry-cured and similar to salami, ensuring the right texture and flavor for the aioli, rather than Mexican chorizo, which is fresh.
- Slice the chorizo into small, uniform coins and then quarter them to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Cook the chorizo slowly in a skillet over moderate heat to properly render out the flavorful fat, which will be a key ingredient in the aioli.
- Collect the rendered fat carefully as it forms the flavor base of the aioli, adding depth and richness.
- Consider variations such as adding garlic or lemon juice to enhance the aioli's flavor profile, tailoring it to personal taste preferences.
- Ensure the chorizo is cooked to a crisp texture for the best flavor and texture integration into the aioli.
4. 🍋 Mixing Aioli Ingredients
- Traditional aioli is made with garlic and olive oil emulsified using a mortar and pestle.
- Modern aioli resembles mayonnaise flavored with garlic, typically using Kewpie mayo.
- Use two tablespoons of Kewpie mayo mixed with a microplaned garlic clove.
- Add one tablespoon of fancy olive oil to achieve a 2:1 ratio of mayo to olive oil.
- Incorporate lemon zest and about a teaspoon of lemon juice for flavor enhancement.
- The mixture can be paired with smoked paprika and garlic flavored pork fat to create crispy bits.
5. 🔥 Perfecting Broccolini Roasting
- For optimal broccolini roasting, allow it to cook longer than expected to achieve a dark brown color.
- Set the oven to its highest setting or use convection mode for best results.
- Finish with a broiler to make the top extra crispy if desired.
- Cook until the broccolini's florets are frizzled and almost black to enhance flavor.
6. 🍽️ Plating and Final Touches
- Avoid stacking food into tall towers; instead, opt for wide and flat presentations to stay modern and visually appealing.
- Use a drizzle of cheatyreso aioli and fresh olive oil to enhance flavor and presentation of the dish.
- Incorporate crispy chiso bits for added texture and visual interest in plating.
- Broccolini, when charred and paired with just olive oil and lemon juice, can serve as a delicious standalone dish.
- A quick and easy sauce with crispy bits can elevate a simple vegetable into a fancy dish.
7. 🎥 Video Conclusion and Sponsorship
- The video and recipe were sponsored by Balmuda, offering a 15% discount using the code kenji_15.
- Full article, recipe, and bonus content are available for free on Patreon.
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