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Balsamic Roasted Broccoli Side Dish (Vegan)

August 22, 2019

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy

This side dish recipe is super simple and healthy, featuring crispy roasted broccoli topped with a homemade balsamic reduction and fresh basil. This recipe is gluten-free and vegan, but I guarantee even meat-eaters will love it! Oh, and it’s also only FIVE ingredients.

roasted broccoli with balsamic reduction and basil

A while back I asked you guys which vegetables you wanted easy side dish recipes for, and one of the most popular requests was for broccoli!

Not only is broccoli incredibly nutritious, but it also can be SO delicious when made correctly. Enter: this easy Balsamic Roasted Broccoli With Basil.

This healthy broccoli recipe is made with just FIVE ingredients – fresh broccoli, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, and salt. It’s so yummy, proving that simple ingredients are truly just the best!

Let’s get cooking!

roasted broccoli with balsamic reduction and basil

Broccoli Nutrition Benefits

This green cruciferous vegetable is a great source of:

Micronutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium

  • Broccoli is one of the best sources of Vitamin C out there – just one cup provides 135% of your daily vitamin C needs

Dietary fibre – one cup provides 2.3 grams of fibre, which is 9% of your daily fibre needs

  • Fibre is known to help with digestion, heart health, blood sugar control, and weight management.
chopped broccoli florets in a bowl

How To Roast Broccoli

Hands down my favourite way to cook any vegetable is by roasting it. Broccoli is no different – it gets crispy and oh-so-good.

All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

  • Start by chopping two heads of fresh broccoli into ~1-inch florets
  • Toss those florets in 2 Tbsp of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt
  • Spread florets onto a baking sheet, ensuring some space between florets
  • Pop them into the oven at 400F for 20 minutes, or until slightly browned and tender
  • Remove from oven and serve!

While the broccoli is in the oven, it’s time to make the balsamic reduction…

roasted broccoli

How To Make A Balsamic Reduction

Making a balsamic reduction (or glaze) at home is super simple to do, and only requires one ingredient – balsamic vinegar!

All you need to do is:

  • add 1 cup balsamic vinegar to a small pot
  • bring it to a boil
  • then reduce the temperature + simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally

After 15 minutes of simmering, you may think that the reduction appears too thin. I promise you it will continue to thicken as it cools, so be sure not to overcook it!

The first time I made a balsamic reduction, I overcooked it and it was so thick I could barely use it. Lesson learned – stick to 15 minutes!!

If it does end up getting too hard, simply add a bit of water to thin it out.

If you don’t use up all the reduction in this recipe, refrigerate the remainder in a sealed container for a few weeks. You can use it to drizzle over veggies, salads, avocado toasts, and more.

homemade balsamic reduction

Why Make Your Own Balsamic Reduction?

If you take a look at store-bought balsamic reductions, you’ll notice that they’re full of unnecessary additives!

Things like added sugar, emulsifiers, caramel colourings…even in health food stores, it’s hard to find a balsamic reduction that doesn’t contain these ingredients.

There’s really no need to purchase it when you can make it so easily at home, using only one ingredient (that you probably already have on hand!)

homemade balsamic reduction

What To Pair With Balsamic Roasted Broccoli

I highly recommend pairing this broccoli side dish recipe with a yummy protein and a starch to round out your meal. Check out some of my favourite recipe ideas below!

Protein ideas:

  • Garlic Shrimp With Smoked Paprika & Honey
  • Honey Lemon Oven-Baked Salmon With Thyme
  • 25-Minute Baked Salmon With Pistachio Pesto
  • Crispy Baked Tofu With Maple Miso Sauce
  • Crispy Salmon With Coconut, Honey & Lime
  • Easy Curry Tofu Scramble
  • The Best Canned Salmon Burger

Starch ideas:

  • How To Cook & Season Quinoa: 3 Recipes
  • Easy Cooked Farro
  • Crispy Roasted Potatoes With Chili & Paprika
  • Roasted Potatoes With Za’atar & Lemon
roasted broccoli with balsamic reduction and basil

More Vegetable Side Dishes

  • Grilled Zucchini With Goat Cheese, Basil & Honey
  • Roasted Asparagus With Pecan Parmesan (Vegan)
  • Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Hemp Seed Pesto (Vegan)
  • Juicy Oven-Roasted Radishes (Vegan)
  • Roasted Spicy Honey Carrots With Yogurt Parsley Sauce

Did you give this Balsamic Roasted Broccoli Side Dish a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!

If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!

roasted broccoli with balsamic reduction and basil
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5 from 1 vote

Balsamic Broccoli Side Dish (Vegan)

This balsamic roasted broccoli features fresh basil and a homemade balsamic reduction. A simple, healthy, and vegan side dish. Plus, it's only 5 ingredients!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Diet Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword balsamic, basil, broccoli, vegetables
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Author Carrie Walder

Ingredients

  • 2 heads broccoli, chopped into florets
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Chop heads of broccoli into florets. In a large bowl, toss broccoli florets with olive oil and salt.
  • Spread broccoli on a large baking sheet. Place in oven for 20 minutes.
  • While the broccoli is in the oven, add balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer balsamic for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
  • Remove broccoli from oven and serve into a bowl. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and sprinkle with freshly chopped basil. Enjoy!

Notes

*While best enjoyed immediately, this dish can be kept in the fridge for a couple days and enjoyed cold as well.
*Do not over-reduce balsamic reduction. It may not appear super thick after 15 minutes of cooking, but it will still continue to thicken as it cools! If you find that it’s too thick, thin it out with a bit of water. 
*Any leftover balsamic reduction can be kept in the fridge for later use!
Did you make this recipe?Be sure to tag @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy

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2 Comments
Filed Under: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Sauces & Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian
Tagged With: basil, broccoli

Comments

  1. Audrey O says

    November 7, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    5 stars
    I must admit, I haven’t made this in a while, but I happened to see it in my Pinterest board, and decided to come and rate it.
    Whenever I try a new recipe I have my family rate it. There are 5 of us, and each will give one star if they enjoyed the meal enough to have it a second time. Now before I say anymore, I have one child who would rather have teeth pulled than eat broccoli, but I make him take one bite every time I make it a new way. This recipe received FIVE stars from my family. That means even my non broccoli eater gave it a star and said, “Mom, you finally found a way that I will eat broccoli!”
    Every time I make it a different way now, he says “mom, when are you making the broccoli I like again?” I guess I better put it back in rotation soon. Thanks so much for sharing such a delicious recipe that even my picky child will eat it.

    Reply
    • Carrie Walder says

      November 9, 2020 at 9:14 am

      Hi Audrey! Oh my gosh this is quite possibly the best recipe review I have ever received haha!! Thank you so much for sharing this – it made my day. I’m so happy to hear your whole family loved it, and that we have a newly converted broccoli lover because of it !!! Thank you again 🙂

      Reply

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About Me

Hi, I’m Carrie Walder, MS, RD! I’m a Registered Dietitian in both Canada and the United States. Here, and on my Instagram (@walderwellness), I share ways to add more whole foods into your everyday life in a simple, realistic, and nutritionally balanced way. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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