Charred Broccoli and Cauliflower with Garlic and Balsamic Vinegar: Easy 10 Minute Vegan Appetizer

Mood: I’m backkk! Apologies for the long silence folks! I was away for work in London & life got just a little too hectic. Jam packed week days full of exciting work (I was teaching a summer course on Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics & Political Science) & adventure filled weekends, exploring new hidden London gems, as well as, revisiting all my favourite haunts (back from my college days)! It was an incredible trip & I’m glad I took a mini social media break, to really soak in every second of the wonderful experience:) But I’m back in beautiful LA now & it feels great to be home again:) And of course, it’s time for a new blog post! This recipe is inspired my recent travels:) One of my favourite British flavour combinations is Sea Salt & Vinegar! Salt & Vinegar Crisps..is there anything better?! This easy 10 minute vegan appetizer recipe is a wholesome plant based take on the classic salt & vinegar flavours, with a scrumptious charred, garlic-y twist:) Simple. Smoky. Tangy. Crunchy. Finger Licking Delicious:) Happy Eating:)

Time: 10 minutes
Serving Size: 2-3 people
Category: Appetizer; Side
Author: Animagus Eats

Ingredients:
• 3-4 cups Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets (mixed)
• 3 Garlic Cloves (chopped)
• 1 1/2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar*
• 1/4 – 1/2 tsp Sea Salt (to taste)
• 1/4 tsp Ground Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Chilli Flakes
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano/Dried Herb Mix
• Garnish: Nut Free Crunchy Vegan Parmesan (optional)*

Method:
1. Heat the oil in a large/wide saucepan. Add the broccoli, cauliflower & garlic to the pan & sauté the veggies on medium heat. Make the florets are bite sized/not too large. Keep turning/flipping the veggies in the pan & sauté them until they are cooked through (yet still a bit crunchy), with a nice char on them. To speed up the cooking process, you can cover the pan for 2-3 minutes, but make sure the veggies don’t start to steam or overcook. The essence of the dish is the crunchy, smoky goodness:) At the same time, keep an eye on the charring process, because we don’t want to burn our veggies either:) The whole cooking process will take about 4-6 minutes.

2. Once the veggies are cooked, add the vinegar & all the seasonings to the pan, & mix well. Turn the heat down to low mode, & sauté the veggies for another minute, so that the flavours can infuse:)

3. Transfer the charred veggies to a serving plate/bowl & garnish the dish with something crunchy or cheesy. I used my homemade Nut Free Crunchy Vegan Parmesan🙂 And voila! Your Charred Broccoli & Cauliflower with Garlic & Balsamic Vinegar is ready:) Bon Appétit:)

Notes:
*Feel free to add more/less vinegar, salt & seasoning, depending on your preference:)
*Other options for toppings are vegan cheese, nutritional yeast, nuts, sesame seeds, etc:)