Cheddar-Melted Roasted Broccolini

1. Preheat the Oven

First, preheat your oven to 400°F.

2. Prepare the Broccolini

While the oven is warming up, prepare the broccolini by removing and discarding the bottom half of the stems. Slice the remaining stems lengthwise and pull apart the florets so they are relatively uniform in size.

3. Season the Broccolini

Place the broccolini on a sheet pan. Drizzle with about 4 tablespoons of good olive oil, then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 0.5 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together until the broccolini is lightly coated with the oil and seasoning. Spread the broccolini out in a single layer on the sheet pan.

4. Roast the Broccolini

Roast the broccolini in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. During this time, the broccolini will become tender and slightly caramelized. After 10 minutes, take the pan out and use a metal spatula to give the broccolini a quick toss.

5. Add the Cheddar

While the broccolini is roasting, slice and crumble 6 ounces of sharp aged white Cheddar. Once you've given the broccolini a toss, sprinkle the crumbled Cheddar evenly over the top. Return the pan to the oven for an additional 3-4 minutes, just long enough for the cheese to melt beautifully over the broccolini.

6. Finish and Serve

When the cheese is melted and bubbly, remove the pan from the oven. Finish the dish by squeezing the juice of half a lemon over the broccolini and melted cheese. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, and serve immediately.