Pan-Seared Vegetables

From Kitchn

How To Pan-Sear Any Vegetable for a Quick Weeknight Side Dish

What You Need

Ingredients
1 lb veggie of choice — like broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, or carrots
1-2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, olive oil, or other favorite cooking oil
Pinch red pepper flakes
Kosher salt (to taste)
1/2 lemon

Tools
Large skillet or wok
Spoon

Instructions

1. Rinse, dry, and chop the vegetables. Rinse the vegetables under cool water, dry them thoroughly, and then chop them into bite-sized pieces. You want a blackened, slightly charred exterior on these vegetables, so the drier the vegetable the better the crust.

2. Add the oil to the stir-fry pan and heat over medium-high to high heat. Add just enough oil to film the bottom of the pan with a thin coating. Since this method requires cooking at high heat, using an oil that has a higher smoke point like grapeseed oil will be best; however, olive oil will also work fine if you don't have grapeseed on hand. Just watch the temperature more carefully so you don't smoke up the kitchen.

3. Add the vegetables to the hot pan. When the oil begins to shimmer and you see a slight wisp of smoke, add the vegetables to the pan. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes and salt over the vegetables. Lay the lemon cut-side down on the bottom of the pan.

4. Cover and cook for 2 minutes, undisturbed. Cover the pan with a lid and let the vegetables cook without stirring for two minutes, until they are blackened on the underside. I'm a guy who loves to flip and stir things, but for this I have to tell myself to wait and it'll be worth it. Now's a good time to pour a glass of wine or open a beer.

5. Remove lid and check on the doneness. Give the vegetables a quick toss and let the other side blacken for another 1-2 minutes.

6. Remove veggies from pan, and finish with the squeeze of lemon. Transfer the vegetables to a serving platter or individual plates. Squeeze the blackened lemon half over the vegetables, and enjoy.