Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce
Farm to table vegetables are all the rage! Who wouldn’t be happy to eat tender-crisp fresh vegetables everyday! But frozen vegetables have a lot going for them, especially when served up in a tasty dish like Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce.
Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce
I love the growing season with it’s unblemished produce and varied choices. But for many of us, winter is long. And imported items from California (or even the southern hemisphere–gasp!) come at an economic and environmental cost.
Drizzle broccoli with olive oil before roasting
Enter frozen vegetables with some benefits of their own. Watching your pennies? Off season frozen may be a steal! Garden or CSA with a bumper crop? Preserve the extras! Committed to eating local? Freeze for winter. And if they are frozen right after harvest, their nutrition may even exceed fresh!
Bite of Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce
In the past my frozen broccoli has gone into casseroles like Chicken Divan. But it is delicious roasted—just in case you want to shake up the ubiquitous roasted roots!
Tahini sauce for Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce
The broccoli can go right into the oven frozen–no need to thaw. When it comes out tender and caramelized, with a creamy layer of tahini sauce, you may not miss spring at all.
Closeup of Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce
Winter is long! But being a locavore means never having to give up flavor!
Roasted Frozen Broccoli in Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
Roast Broccoli
- 10-12 oz frozen broccoli florets
- 1-2 tsp olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- 1 tsp sesame seeds optional for garnish
Tahini Sauce
- 2 Tbsp tahini paste
- 2 Tbsp almond milk yogurt or water
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp lemon
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to at 400 F. Drizzle frozen broccoli (see note) with olive oil and stir to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in a single layer until tender and starting to brown, about 15 minutes. (If you use fresh broccoli, cooking time may increase by 5-10 minutes)
- To make sauce, whisk ingredients in a small bowl until well-blended.
- Remove cooked broccoli to a serving plate, drizzle with dressing, and top with black sesame seeds if desired.
Inger – I think the only frozen vegetables I use are peas! However, if I grew my own broccoli, blanched it myself, and then froze it – I, too, would be using frozen broccoli. The tahini sauce sounds incredible!
Or if your CSA farmer grows it, you blanch it yourself and then freeze it!
Hi Inger:)
I’m a huge fan of frozen veggies as long as they are left as is. It’s when the sauces and seasonings are added then I get frustrated. Sometimes that’s all I can find in the local grocery stores. (I’m not crazy about those steam bag vegetables either. I usually take them out and start from “scratch.”
I’ve never thought to make a refreshing Tahini Sauce and I happen to have Tahini in the fridge! Can’t wait to try this Inger, thanks for sharing…
I had some dinner guests last week Louise and one of them was even using the Tahini sauce on the salmon. That made me feel good!
I have never froze my own broccoli. I didn’t realize you can roast them directly from frozen. The tahini and roasted broccoli sounds great, Inger! It’s a combination I never would have thought to put together.
Our CSAs had a very nice harvest last year, which we couldn’t finish fresh, so I put a fair amount in the freezer. I love tahini and have been wanting to do a sauce with it for ages!
I usually do not use frozen broccoli…somehow I always thought that they would be too mushy…I love the idea of using tahini paste as a base for the sauce…
Have a great week Inger 🙂
Truthfully, I was surprised that this worked too (I did a teeny amount the first time in case I had to toss it). I do think the tahini sauce helped to cover up any slight imperfections. Next I’ll be trying frozen brussels sprouts!
Inger my daugther love so much broccoli ! I will try this the next time . Usually I boiled because she love like salad but this yours sounds delicious!!
How nice to have a daughter who loves broccoli Gloria!
broccoli is something i always try to have in my freezer, though i usually just steam it and haven’t tried to roast it. i definitely will, and your sauce sounds like the perfect accompaniment!
This is the first time I’ve roasted from frozen too Grace. But turned out good enough to serve for company tonight!
I use frozen fruit and vegetables all the time. Living in a northern climate, it’s one way of bringing summer into winter. Great recipe!
Thanks Beth. Yes, I am really working on the art of using frozen (or stored) vegetables this winter. A frozen strawberry mission is coming up!
I have never used tahini paste – or at least I don’t think so. Imho, there is no finer veg from our CSA than the broccoli.
This winter, I am really learning how much there is to appreciate from my CSA vegetables Tammy!