California's renowned chef, David Gingrass, has managed to make broccoli a desire among many individuals with his simple yet irresistible recipe. He enhances the natural sweetness of this vegetable by slicing the heads lengthwise and giving them a golden crunch. Near the finish, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper and some thinly sliced garlic provide a hint of spicy aroma. The touch that steals the show, however, is the squeeze of lemon that he adds to the broccoli.

What's even better is that in the United States, particularly in California, fresh broccoli is available throughout the year, making this dish a year-round favorite.

Broccoli, as an ingredient, is versatile in its cooking methods - you can blanch, roast, bake, grill, or even fry it. However, the charm of caramelizing broccoli in a skillet, allowing better control, outshines other techniques. The cut side of the broccoli is kept downwards, maximizing the surface area for the beautiful browning. The vegetable is then gently steamed to maintain its moisture and save it from burning.

This grilled broccoli pairs impeccably with summer meals, including grilled steaks, salmon fillets, or chicken thighs. It also works splendidly as a cozy holiday roast side dish. If you're seeking a vegetarian alternative, try serving this caramelized broccoli with stewed beans or over steamed white rice alongside a baked marinated tofu slice.

To keep it balanced, sliced garlic is used in this recipe as it is less likely to burn and provides a milder flavor compared to its finely chopped counterpart. The more you break down garlic, the more it releases a pungent taste.

This recipe's steps involve heating 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep skillet, placing the broccoli with the cut side down, and cooking it until it's nicely browned. Then, half cup of water is added, and the broccoli is cooked until it achieves the right tenderness, and the water evaporates. Next, another spoon of olive oil, along with the garlic and crushed red pepper, is added, and the mix is left to cook until the garlic turns golden brown. Finally, a dash of lemon juice is sprinkled, the broccoli is seasoned with salt and black pepper, and served.