Roasted Broccolini with Marjoram

A Bitten Word Recipe
Inspired by The Spotted Pig

Last week Zach was in New York for a couple days for a conference. It was two long days of sessions (albeit really interesting ones).

But the night before the conference started, Zach made it into the city with enough time to catch a show. He saw a one-man play called Buyer & Cellar, which was really quite great. The show is Off Broadway, in a great tiny little theater in Greenwich Village. 

After the show let out, Zach was a little peckish. And he knew just where to walk: The Spotted Pig. We both love that restaurant, and late on a quiet, cool Sunday night, it was a little corner of heaven right there in the West Village. Warm and inviting and wonderful.

Zach grabbed a seat at the bar and checked out the menu. He ended up ordering a great crispy-seared mackerel with crème fraîche and mint vinaigrette, which was delicious.

And he ordered the Roasted Broccolini with Marjoram. With the first bite, he knew he wanted us to recreate it at home.

We are absolute suckers for a dish that takes something with which we're familiar and adds a new element. That's exactly the case here. We roast broccolini all the time.  Seriously, maybe once a week in cooler weather. We use different flavorings depending on our mood: mint and red pepper flakes, maybe, or orange zest. Or often just good ol' salt and pepper.

But we were excited to try it with marjoram. We're not really sure we've ever really cooked with marjoram. (Despite our overflowing spice cabinet, we actually had to go out and buy marjoram.) Its flavor is somewhat akin to oregano, but milder and sweeter. It's described here as having "sweet pine and citrus flavors."

And it's a perfect accompaniment to roasted broccolini.

We've added a nice spice to our repertoire!

Now we need to go on another fact-finding mission to The Spotted Pig!

 

 

Roasted Broccolini with Marjoram
A Bitten Word Recipe
Inspired by The Spotted Pig

 

INGREDIENTS

2 medium bunches broccolini
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon dried marjoram

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange broccolini in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour oil on broccolini and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Roast until tender and the broccolini tops are beginning to brown, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with marjoram. Using tongs, toss to coat.