This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #LeanCuisine. This Charred Broccolini with a tahini-Greek yogurt spread and lemony, spicy breadcrumbs is one fabulous way to eat your vegetables.
How is everyone’s January shaping up so far? Mine has been non-stop, thanks to all the new year goal setting I’ve been up to. I have to admit planning gets me super pumped, though. A little too pumped. But also kind of anxious and overwhelmed, because there’s SO much to be done and seemingly never enough time to do it.
Do you ever have those days where you wake up and just start going…barely stopping only to wolf down some lunch and go to the bathroom? And the day just whizzes by and before you know it, it’s dark outside and it’s time for dinner and you still didn’t get everything checked off your list? And you look in the fridge but you’re just DONE. Forget about cooking dinner from scratch. Not gonna happen. But you really don’t want to order greasy takeout—-> Pretty much me all month so far trying to put all that planning into action.
I know you guys feel me, though. Everyone has those days, right? So here’s my busy weeknight dinner hack for when you can’t even.
I plan ahead for times like those, because I know some nights will pop up when I can’t bother to put much effort into cooking. For me this is usually when I’ve just come home from catering a huge dinner party and it’s late and I already cooked- A LOT- so I don’t want to do it all over again. For you it might be when the kids have exhausted all your energy helping them with schoolwork after a particularly crappy day at work, and oh, look, there’s laundry and dishes piling up too. Or maybe you’re in school and just need something fast but still wholesome for dinner, so you can get back to writing that ten page paper that’s due tomorrow…that you JUST started.
I don’t know your life, I just know that we all have hectic days sometimes. And while you guys know I’m all about eating whole foods as often possible, sometimes life happens. None of us are perfectly poised to make a meal from scratch one hundred percent of the time, so frozen meals are something I’m not ashamed to admit I rely on to help me out, probably once a week. The rest of the time I can be a domestic goddess, but sometimes I need a hand.
I do try to make sure that what I’m picking up in the frozen section is something I can feel good about though. That’s why I love Lean Cuisine Marketplace meals. There are so many foodie-approved choices, including options made with organic ingredients, non-GMO ingredients, and no preservatives. Gluten free options, too!
And then when it’s that crazy time I just heat them up and prepare a super quick, super easy, fresh vegetable like this Charred Broccolini to serve alongside it.
No boring veggies around here, guys. I just can’t. This Charred Broccolini is all jazzed up with a killer tahini yogurt spread (that I can literally eat with a spoon like peanut butter) and some intensely lemony/spicy/crispy breadcrumbs (tip: save the leftovers for sprinkling on EVERYTHING savory). Luckily these two flavor boosters can be whipped up in the time that it takes your Lean Cuisine meal to heat up in the microwave. Pinky promise.
I love to pair this Charred Broccolini with the LEAN CUISINE® Marketplace Spicy Penne Arrabiata, which is made with organic pasta and tomatoes. Doesn’t this look like a dinner you’d order at a trendy Italian restaurant? Well guess what, it only took about ten minutes. Whim, bam, boom. Dinner is served. So don’t ever feel like you have to sacrifice the flavor and quality of your dinner even if you’re short on time or energy.
AAAANNND guess what else? Now is the ideal time to stock up on Lean Cuisine Marketplace meals at Target, because they’re only $1.99 through January 31.
Do yourself a favor and gather up your stash like I did- you can find them in Target’s frozen foods aisle- so you’ll be covered for those can’t even nights that are sure to pop up.
Charred Broccolini with Tahini Yogurt Spread
This Charred Broccolini with a tahini-Greek yogurt spread and lemony, spicy breadcrumbs is one fabulous way to eat your vegetables.
Ingredients
For the broccolini:
- 8 ounces broccolini
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Tahini Yogurt Spread:
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the breadcrumbs:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large clove garlic smashed
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook broccolini for about 2 minutes, then dunk in a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain well and pat dry on paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine the tahini, Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and lemon juice and whisk until smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper and spread a thick layer of mixture onto a platter.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and clove of garlic. Cook for about 1 minute then remove garlic clove and discard. Add panko, crushed red pepper, lemon zest and salt and pepper to the pan. Cook, stirring often, until panko is golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Wipe out skillet well and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Turn heat up to medium high. When pan is hot but not smoking, add broccolini and cook over high heat, without stirring, until charred in spots, about 2 minutes. Turn and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Arrange broccolini over the tahini Greek Yogurt spread. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
If you make this Charred Broccolini with Tahini Yogurt Spread, tag a picture on Instagram with #LePetitEats so I can see! Also check out Lean Cuisine on Instagram and tag them too!
Very detailed and motivational recipe! Keep up the good work!
Loved the Tahini Spread! That’s definitely going to find its way into more of the things I cook.