Broccoli, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

This recipe substitutes roasted broccoli for bacon, ham, or sausage. A brief excursion to a scorching oven transforms an ordinarily modest vegetable into a dish as assertive as bacon, including crispy, frizzy florets and chewy, delicate stems.

IMAGE CREDIT: JULIA GARTLAND. Property Stylist: Amanda Widis. FOOD STYLIST: SAMANTHA SENEVIRATNE

Ingredients

• 1 small head broccoli (about 1 pound)

• 1.5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons

• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 4 English muffins, white or whole-wheat, halved with a fork

• 8 slices extra-sharp cheddar cheese

• 4 large eggs

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 475°F. Disassemble the broccoli into florets. Remove the outer layer of the broccoli stalks, then cut them into large pieces. Transfer all of this to a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Coat the broccoli with 1 ½ teaspoons of oil, season with salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly. Roast for approximately 20 minutes, rotating midway, until the broccoli is tender when pierced with a fork and the florets begin to crisp.

2. Shift the roasted broccoli to one side of the sheet pan. Arrange the English muffins in a single layer, with the cut sides facing upward, on the remaining half. Place a slice of cheddar on each English muffin. Return the sheet pan to the oven and bake for approximately 5 minutes, or until the cheese has fully melted.

3. Simultaneously, prepare the eggs. Preheat a large nonstick skillet on the stove over medium heat, then incorporate the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil. Once the oil reaches a high temperature, introduce the four eggs. Prepare till the egg whites are firm and the yolks remain liquid. Cease here if you desire sunny side-up for an additional sizzling experience. Alternatively, invert the eggs and proceed to cook for approximately 10 seconds for over-easy or slightly longer for over-medium.

4. To construct the sandwiches: Equally distribute the broccoli florets and stalks atop the cheesy English muffin bases, then crown each broccoli portion with an egg. Seal the sandwiches and consume immediately.