/ 24 February 2026

3 Fresh Ways With Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Here, Alexandra Dudley is shining a spotlight on one hero ingredient and this time, it’s purple sprouting broccoli – including the best ways and places to try it.

Alexandra Dudley

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THE INGREDIENT:

Purple sprouting broccoli

Purple sprouting broccoli is brilliant right now. Slightly sweeter and nuttier than regular broccoli, it is leafier with deep purple florets and long thinner stems (similar to tender stem). Like most greens, it is excellent with just a dose of butter or olive oil and a good pinch of sea salt, but I’ve listed a few more of my favourite combinations as well as a full recipe below.

Purple sprouting broccoli with anchovy, chilli and hazelnut – Cook some garlic, chilli flakes and a tin of anchovies (plus their oil) over a low heat until the anchovies have broken down. Add just blanched purple sprouting broccoli and toasted crushed hazelnuts. Toss and enjoy.

Purple sprouting broccoli with olive oil, grana padano and lemon – Blanch purple sprouting broccoli before tossing together with your best olive oil, lemon zest and lots of finely grated grana padano or parmesan.

Purple sprouting broccoli with garlic, sesame and soy – This is not dissimilar to the recipe below except that when I eat it like this, I prefer it warm. Blanched purple sprouting broccoli tossed with finely grated garlic, toasted sesame oil and a good splash of soy. Finish it with lots of toasted sesame seeds.

THE RECIPE:

Roasted Purple Sprouting Broccoli With Sesame Miso Dressing & Blood Orange

Ingredients

500g of purple sprouting broccoli

4 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds

1 red chilli, seeds removed, very finely chopped

1 large orange

For the dressing

1 tbsp of miso paste

4 tbsp of toasted sesame oil

Juice of ½ lemon or lime

1 tbsp of runny honey

1 small garlic clove, finely grated

1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, finely grated

Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 190°C Fan.

Step 2

Trim away any very woody ends and chop any large pieces of the purple sprouting broccoli in half.

Step 3

Spread across two large baking trays (you want some space between the pieces to help them to crisp), drizzle generously with olive oil and season with sea salt. Toss then roast for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Combine the dressing ingredients together in a large bowl (large enough to hold the broccoli) and whisk with a fork until smooth.

Step 5

Cut away the peel and pith from the orange and cut into roughly 1in pieces

Step 6

Add the roasted broccoli to the bowl with the dressing, chopped chilli and most of the sesame seeds and toss. Then add the orange and toss loosely again.

Step 7

Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining sesame seeds.

Trullo London

THE FOLLOW:

Jesse Jenkins

Jesse Jenkins has made vegetables sexy again. His recipes across Substack and his Instagram turn vegetables into dishes that will upstage the rest of the table and his debut cookbook Cooking With Vegetables is out now.

Follow @ADIPFOOD

THE RESTAURANT:

Trullo London

Trullo in Islington has a dish of veal chop with purple sprouting broccoli on their menu. It comes with anchovy and glazed cippolini onions and sounds delicious.

Visit TRULLORESTAURANT.COM

THE CONDIMENT:

Gypsy Oil Chilli Crisp

If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your purple sprouting broccoli or any vegetables for that matter, a spoonful of Gypsy Oil’s Chilli Crisp will do it. A combination of garlic, shallots, and chilli flakes with sesame seeds it packs a serious flavour punch.

Available at SHOP.APP

For more from Alexandra, follow @ALEXANDRADUDLEY or visit ALEXANDRADUDLEY.COM