Dressed in a savory & nutty sesame sauce, Broccolini Gomaae is a delicious vegetable side dish that goes well with everything. You’d only need 15 min to prepare from start to finish!
When I plan out the meals for the week, usually I can choose the main dishes fairly quickly but the challenging part for me seems to be always side dishes. If you are stuck with making the same the side dishes too often, I hope you’ll try this easy and appetizing Broccolini Gomaae (ブロッコリーニの胡麻和え).
Watch How to Make Broccolini Gomaae ブロッコリーニの胡麻和えの作り方
Delectable broccolini dressed in a savory and nutty sesame sauce.
Gomaae (pronounced “go-maa-e”) literally means “dressed in sesame sauce” in Japanese and it’s a popular way to season broiled vegetables such as green beans and spinach (Spinach Gomaae). The nutty, sweet and savory sesame sauce enhances the flavor of boiled or steamed green vegetables.
I created this dish out of an accident. I was going to make Green Bean Gomaae, but I realized that my green beans went bad already. Then I found a big bag of organic broccolini from Costco in the fridge and thought I’d use it instead. Broccolini and gomaae complemented each other really well and it’s been one of our favorite side dishes since. You can also make this same dish with regular broccoli.
Broccolini is a green vegetable similar to broccoli, but it has smaller florets and longer thin stalks. I didn’t know this until researching for this post but broccolini was originally developed in Yokohama, Japan (my home!) in early 90’s (source). The end result is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli. If you love broccoli or Chinese broccoli, you’ll love this veggie. It has the texture of Chinese broccoli but without the bitter taste, more similar to the flavors of regular broccoli.
It has lots of vitamin C, and also contains vitamin A, calcium and iron. The stems are very soft and you can eat the entire vegetable!
It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare from start to finish and I can usually cook it while I prepare main dish. It’s fast to cook, delicious and healthy! Hope this will become one of the popular side dishes for you and your family as well.
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- ½ lb broccolini (½ lb = 220 g)
- pinch salt (kosher or sea salt; use half if using table salt)
- 3 Tbsp white sesame seeds (roasted/toasted)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Gather all the ingredients.
- Rinse the broccolini in running water, cut and discard the ends.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. When boiling, add a pinch of salt and put the end of broccolini first into the boiling water and then submerge the rest of broccolini. Boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove the broccolini and soak in the iced water to cool.
- Pick up a few bunches of broccolini and squeeze the water out. Place them in a clean bowl.
- Add the sesame seeds in a large frying pan and toast them until a few sesame seeds start popping, about 1 and half minute. Toss the frying pan while toasting so sesame seeds won’t get burnt.
- Transfer the toasted sesame seeds into a Japanese-style pestle & grooved mortar and keep grinding until the texture becomes smooth.
- Add sugar and soy sauce to crushed sesame seed and mix well.
- Mix the sesame sauce with the broccolini and serve at the room temperature or chilled.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
I love broccolini, so this looks fantastic to me!
I’ve got some broccoli in my vegetable drawer in the fridge and can see making this with it though I’d probably use some shortcuts like using the tahini from my fridge instead of toasting and grinding the sesame seeds myself. And I’ll microwave the broccoli. First, the stems by themselves for a minute, and then add the florettes for another minute or so. Thank you for the great idea.
I know I’ll love this and that sesame sauce on the broccolini (or other veggies too). Like all the steps, Nami! Have a good week ahead… 🙂
I’ve made this before with regular broccoli–broccolini looks so cute!
I’m glad you and your family had a safe return to SF, too!
Hi Donna! We like broccoli too! Thank you so much for your kind words!!
I love the flavors in this dish and your photography makes me silly with anticipation.
What a great way to use sesame seed! This looks wonderful — thanks so much.
Broccolini is not that easy to find here in Indonesia, i guess i’m gonna use broccoli or cauliflower for the recipe!!!
Lovely, easy, fast and tasty way to prep broccolini as a side! Oh, it is available everywhere here by now, but at quite a higher cost than ordinary broccoli – so may have to tweak just a tad 🙂 !!!! Glad you are back home all safe and sound 🙂 !
Thank you for your kind words, Eha! I agree it’s a bit more expensive than regular broccoli. It’s a good alternative veggie time to time. 🙂
We love broccoli and yours look fantastic! The color of broccolini is just gorgeous, and I really love the idea of crushed toasted crushed sesame seeds with all the other ingredients! Got to try it sometimes! Thumps up on the video!!! Oh and Welcome Back!:)
My favourite salad dressing is the Japanese Sesame Seed dressing. I know I’d love this even better because it’s fresher than the bottled kinds! I’m kinda glad this will be removing me out from my side dishes rut too. It’s been the same thing over and over and over for way too long.
I have never tried broccolini, need to try this absolutely 😀
Your photos make it look even better!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
とても健康的なレシピですね。確かに’ほうれん草と胡麻にっているレシピがありますね。いずれにしても、なみさんのブロックリニーは美味しいそうです！
You found broccolini at Costco? I’ve never seen it there, but I will be looking closer next time. I’ve been paying an arm and a leg for it at the co-op, but it’s worth it. I can’t get enough of it. It’s so much better than broccoli in my opinion. I can see how this simple sauce really complements the broccolini and I will be making it next time I can find some. Thanks Nami!
The sesame seeds will add an unforgettable flavor to this dish. I can have this Broccolini as a main course, it’s so good. Welcome home. Nice to have you back. Although, I did enjoy all your photos on Instagram! Relax and take it easy, jet lag is tough, Nami!
Tasty!
Cheers,
Rosa
Loved this simple dish!! It’s so full of flavour!! The video is fantastic as well 🙂
I haven’t tried eating brocollini because I don’t see it being sold here at the grocery. Can I try this with broccoli?
Yes! I often make gomaae with broccoli, spinach, green beans etc. They are equally delicious! 🙂
This looks amazing! We love broccolini and I know we’d love this side dish. I’ve never heard/seen this sauce before and it sounds so delicious. Plus, I love a short list of ingredients. Thank you for sharing, Nami!
Your tutorials are always so amazing! And this looks incredible. I bet it has an amazing taste with the sesame sauce!
It has certainly been a while since I’ve had broccolini… Seems like a good time to revisit the veggie. Thanks for sharing the recipe, and I’m so glad that you and your family have returned safely to the states. I can’t wait to see your newest inspirations through your future posts!
Thank you Kimmi! The first week is always tough missing family and our life in Japan but next week should be better! I think I had broccolini most this year because of this gomaae dish. =P
Hm, I didn’t know about the origin of Broccolini. I love Chinese Broccoli though so I will have to try this hybrid!
Oh Nami, I absolutely love that you used broccolini for this. I am a big fan of broccolini and am always looking for new ways and flavors to cook it for my family to get them on board with eating more greens. My husband loves spinach gomaae so I can’t wait to try making this – pinning 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe!
awesome idea! definitely will be making this in my kitchen tonight.. looks so fresh + tasty.
Wow! what flavors going on in there! I don’t think I will find broccolini here but I will do with broccoli and use this dressing. Yum!
A good read on facts plus interesting dish. Thank you for sharing this!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Nami this is going to sound strange but I thought of you today as I was making a spinach dish and I thought that it reminded me of spinach gomae which I know you make a lot 🙂
What a great idea to season vegetables! I have to come up with new ways to make my family consume more vegetables, and your broccolini gomaae will find its way to our dinner table soon 🙂
Looks like a fun spin on this and lovely pictures. Thank you!
Your mushroom chopstick holder is so cute! 🙂 I was just reading a recipe book, and bookmarked the spinach gomaae recipe haha….sounds like a really yummy dish! I’ve never had broccolini before, but I can imagine how good it tastes (I like broccoli haha)- and it looks so pretty too!
へえー横浜で開発かあ、横浜生まれってことだね。こんなお惣菜は食欲が増しそう。 野菜がたっぷり食べれて、ゴマも体にいいし、いいことだらけ。 ナイス！
Yay! I’ve seen that bag of broccolini at Costco. I think I may have to pick one up next time. This looks wonderful! Btw, welcome home 🙂
Another must try Nami, I love the simplicity of this one and definitely a good pair to a lot of great dishes
What a delicious vegetable preparation! I can see it working with so many different veggies. I’m the same way with side dishes…most of the time it ends up being just something steamed and buttered. Now I have a new, tasty option!
I love broccolini, and always sauté with garlic…thanks for this delicious looking recipe…love the taste of sesame…
Enjoy your week Nami 😀
I always get stuck up on the sides too. This looks simple and delish! I love broccolini!
Broccolini is such a delicious vegetable and this preparation looks really flavorful!
thankfully my peeps love broccoli and broccolini but absolutely adore the way you have dressed them up with the different flavors and texture of the sesame seeds. They look delicious. who wouldn’t want to eat their veggies after trying this!
Beautiful dish Nami-san! I love when dishes are quick and easy like this and can be easily adapted to other vegetables. Why stop at just broccoli? I beg this would be delicious on carrots, cauliflower, cabbage or even potatoes. Thanks for the side dish inspiration. Are these some of the new prop dishes from your last trip home? Take Care, BAM
I love eating broccolini, and this sounds so simple yet delicious!
Broccolini for the world!!!
I like this kind of yummy accidents 🙂
Beautiful way of serving broccoli!
Sounds like a wonderfully simple but flavorful side!
It’s the side dishes that I have a challenge with also Nami. We love broccoli and I think this would go over well with the Mr. Thank you for the videos and the step by step pictures you include. I know how time consuming that can be.
Lovely side-dish idea, indeed. I think we all need side-dish inspirations constantly, so thank you for sharing this broccolini gomaae. It’s been ages I haven’t made anything in gomaae dressing…
(PS The first instructions photo doesn’t show; I don’t care because your written instructions are already perfect and clear enough for me 🙂 but I thought maybe you didn’t notice).
Thank you Sissi! The image you mentioned shows okay on my computer. Not sure why that happened, but thank you very much for letting me know! xoxo
Even your accidents are delicious looking Nami. I am not too fond of brocoli, but I think I could have this happily.
What a gorgeous side dish, Namiko, love how simple the ingredients are and quick it is to make, and these lush and green broccolini are absolute beauties! I didn’t know it was originally developed in your birth home, Yokohama, that’s brilliant! I’ve had broccolini before, but most of them are lightly stir-fried with a bit of zest or olive oil. It’s sort of like cooking asparagus in a similar way. Beautiful step by step photos, I admire all of them! Wishing you a lovely week! ❤
Wow, I think I would love anything doused in sesame sauce! Even if it`s veggies that I don`t like. Haha. 😛
Hi! I’ve made your spinach gomaae before and thought it was super tasty! I would like to make a batch of the dressing and store it for later use, is that possible?
Kind regards,
Rebecca 🙂
Hi Rebecca! I’m so happy to hear you like the gomaae sauce! The dressing should last 4-5 days in the fridge as long as you don’t mix with other ingredients. 🙂
Really really yummy. Mechya mechya yummy.
Haha Arigato for your kind feedback, Judy! 🙂
Is there a reason you boil the broccolini and squeeze out the water rather than steaming? I have seen this step often and always wondered.
Hi MPaula! Sure! You can definitely steam it if you like. In my experience, you can keep the green really nice and fresh color when you blanch it in salt water (salt is important in blanching veggies – it brings/keeps the color of vegetables). Hence, we tend to blanch. Hope this helps! 🙂
Is it possible to cook vegetables in the microwave and then put in an ice bath?
Hi Gwen! You can microwave vegetables but I usually don’t see people put in an ice bath to stop cooking further…