Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe (2024)

Our Browned Butter Broccoli and Mizithra Cheese Recipe is one of our families long-time favorite recipes! It’s SO good. If you’ve eaten the Spaghetti Factory Broccoli Recipe and loved like we did, then you won’t be surprised at all to hear that I had to run right home and figure out how to make it myself! Butter broccoli is good and it’s about a million times better when it’s browned! But, what’s the secret? It’s got to be the Mizithra Cheese recipe for sure! Oh my. I adore it.

Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe (1)

Why we love Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe

The first time Browned Butter Broccoli and Mizithra Cheese deliciously passed my lips was at the Spaghetti Factory about 10 years ago now… Oh, I was totally hooked with the first bite!

I instantly knew that I’d be duplicating it at home. Mmmmm hmm.

What is Mizithra Cheese?

• Mizithra Cheese is a Greek cheese made from sheep or goats milk. It is primarily produced on the island of Crete, but it is widespread throughout Greece.Mizithra can be salt dried to produce a mature salty cheese.

• Mizithra is a pasteurized sheep’s milk cheese made all over Greece. In the past, balls of Mizithra were hung outside wrapped in sheets to drain as part of their preparation. Today, cheese makers try to stay true to the rustic roots of hanging, depending on the time of year the milk was harvested.

• When cooking with Mizithra, or any ethnic ingredient, it helps to look at how the people who created it use it.

• The Greeks enjoy Mizithra at all times of the day.

• For breakfast serve slices with thyme honey and fresh fruit. Serve it as an appetizer with olives, tomatoes, basil and bread, like you would Mozzarella. As this cheese ages, it evolves and goes even better with traditional Greek flavors. Crumble or grate it over Mediterranean inspired salads and pastas. For a wine pairing, try serving it with Prosecco.

Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe (2)

Tips for making Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe

• Make sure your fry pan is good and hot when adding the butter to brown that way it will easily brown and caramelize.

• Continually stir butter for 1-2 minutes until you see the brown color deepen and the caramelized fragrance.

• Add broccoli, continue stirring while cooking 2 minutes, cover with lid and cook 2 minutes or until reaches desired tenderness.

• We prefer broccoli tender-firm so we usually don’t put a lid on it and enjoy it crunchier.

• Then the magic sprinkling of Mizithra Cheese! I am very generous with it 🙂

• Serve and enjoy your Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe!

Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe (3)

How to make Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe

  • Coat large fry pan with cooking spray; warm pan to medium high.
  • Melt butter, stirring, continue to cook for 1-2 minutes until butter caramelizes and is fragrant.
  • Add broccoli, stir, cover with a lid and cook 1 minute, stir, repeat until tender soft.
  • Approx 3-4 minutes.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons Mizithra Cheese, pour onto serving platter, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  • Enjoy!

Yield: 6

Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe (4)

Browned Butter Broccoli and Mizithra Cheese Recipe is one of our families long-time favorite recipes!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time7 minutes

Total Time17 minutes

Ingredients

  • 5 cups broccoli florets
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3-4 tablespoons Mizithra Cheese, finely grated
  • sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Coat large fry pan with cooking spray; warm pan to medium high.
  2. Melt butter, stirring, continue to cook for 1-2 minutes until butter caramelizes and is fragrant.
  3. Add broccoli, stir, cover with a lid and cook 1 minute, stir, repeat until tender soft.
  4. Approx 3-4 minutes.
  5. Stir in 2 tablespoons Mizithra Cheese, pour onto serving platter, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  6. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 117Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 182mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

More Side Recipes

Brown Sugar Banana Squash

German Apple and Celery Root Salad

Southwest Roasted Cauliflower

Green Beans with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette and Parmesan Crumbs

Roasted Butternut Squash, Feta, and Pine Nut Salad

Browned Butter, Parmesan, and Almond Green Beans

Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese will make even non-broccoli-eaters like broccoli! YUM.

One more thing before you go…

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Ruthie & Madeliene

Browned Butter Broccoli with Mizithra Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of cheese is mizithra? ›

Mizithra or myzithra (Greek: μυζήθρα [miˈziθra]) is a Greek whey cheese or mixed milk-whey cheese from sheep or goats, or both. It is sold both as a fresh cheese, similar to Italian ricotta, and as a salt-dried grating cheese, similar to Italian ricotta salata. The ratio of milk to whey is usually 7 to 3.

Does Trader Joe's have mizithra cheese? ›

You can find mizithra cheese at Trader Joe's, Harmon's, Sprouts, and other grocery stores. Fresh basil – this is optional, but delicious and so pretty as a garnish. You can also garnish with fresh parsley too.

What cheese does Spaghetti Factory use? ›

A unique cheese with a devoted following, Mizithra has been a part of The Old Spaghetti Factory's family recipes since 1969. It's a toothsome treat for cheese lovers.

How do you store mizithra? ›

They know well that Olive oil is an excellent preservative for Olives and cheeses like Graviera, Kefalotyri, Dry Anthotyro and Myzithra. You cut the hard cheese in large pieces and place them in a clean (preferably sterile but cold) glass jar.

What is the closest cheese to Mizithra cheese? ›

Substitutes. Myzithra is a whey cheese, and while nothing matches the original, you can use mascarpone or ricotta in place of fresh myzithra, and ricotta salata, Parmesan, or Pecorino Romano in place of aged myzithra.

Is mizithra healthy? ›

Note that fresh cheese, such as mizithra, is healthier than other forms of cheese in addition to the protein, calcium and vitamins has lower fat content and is more diet friendly.

What is the shelf life of Mizithra cheese? ›

“Myzithra Kalathaki”, a typical Greek whey cheese, when packaged aerobically, has a shelf-life of ca. 11 days due to its high moisture content (75%), low salt concentration (1–1.5%), medium lipid content (15–20%) and high pH (6.8).

Is Mizithra cheese hard? ›

Mizithra or Myzithra is an old Greek cheese that's dry, salty, and very tangy. Made from sheep's milk, the flavor is similar to feta, but much harder and drier. For this reason Mizithra is very easy to grate. This cheese works wonderfully blended into pasta dishes; Mizithra does not melt fully.

Is Mizithra cheese salty? ›

Mizithra cheese was very popular in ancient times and is considered to be the ancestor of all Greek whey cheeses. Mitzithra is made from pasteurized sheep's milk, sheep's cream, whey and salt. This somewhat bold and buttery cheese is dry and salty, and is similar to Romano cheese in taste and consistency.

Does Mizithra cheese need to be refrigerated? ›

White tablecloth chefs often grate Mizithra over pasta and other baked dishes. This cheese is better suited as a cooking ingredient and can add a friendly, unique flavor to any dish. Storage Tips: Refrigerate any cheeses and meats in a drawer close to where most of the produce is kept.

What cheese do Italians use on spaghetti? ›

Popular choices include an Alpine cheese like Fontina, Swiss, or Gruyère that are good for melting; aged ones for fine grating like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano; a smoked cheese like Provola affumicata; or a creamy spreader like Robiola.

What is the cheese that Olive Garden uses? ›

Olive Garden offers cheese at the table, the grated cheese is Romano cheese, a sheep's milk cheese that is similar to the cow's milk derived Parmesan. Romano tends to be stronger in flavor and saltier, but both are popular choices to adding to pasta dishes.

How to brown butter properly? ›

How to Brown Butter, Step-By-Step Guide
  1. Step 1: Cut the Butter Into Equal Pieces. Start by cutting unsalted butter into equal-sized pieces, which melt more evenly.
  2. Step 2: Cook the Butter Over Medium Heat. ...
  3. Step 3: Let the Butter Bubble. ...
  4. Step 4: Stop Cooking the Butter as Soon as It Smells Toasted.
May 16, 2023

Can I freeze kefalograviera cheese? ›

It can also be frozen for up to three months with minimal effect on flavor and texture. To freeze, tightly wrap hand-sized blocks in plastic or coarsely grate and store in zip-close bags, with all of the air compressed, for up to three months.

Is mizithra similar to feta? ›

Mizithra (Xino, Kopanisti and Manouri)

But when I think of mizithra I think of the Sifnos variety which is a cross between feta and cottage cheese. Imagine a mild feta with the consistency of ricotta. This is usually found on the horiatiki salads on the island but can also be ordered separately.

What kind of cheese is sottocenere? ›

Made in Veneto, Italy and aged for about 3 months, Sottocenere al Tartufo is a semi-firm Italian cow's milk cheese flecked with black truffle. The distinctive rind is gray like ashes and has a subtle addition of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Is mizithra the same as ricotta salata? ›

Its base can be sheep's milk, cow's milk, or a combination of the two kinds of milk, so mizithra is an excellent alternative to ricotta salata in many dishes. You can also find it in fresh and salt-dried varieties. Salt-dried mizithra is better because it's salty and crumbly, almost similar to ricotta salata.

Is Mizithra cheese high in lactose? ›

lower lactose content of 3.10% for Myzithra cheese prepared with the fermented milk is considered to be a favourable attribute for its wider acceptance by consumers with lactase deficiency.

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