Description
Broccoli pasta is a creamy recipe with tender broccoli florets mashed into a delicious sauce with olive oil, garlic, chili, parmesan, and basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound broccoli (fresh or frozen)
- 1 gallon water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 12 ounces short pasta (conchiglie, orecchiette, rotini, or another type)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (pressed, grated, or thinly sliced)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Shaved parmesan for garnishing
- 1 handful basil leaves
Instructions
- BOIL BROCCOLI: Cut 1 pound broccoli into small florets and boil them for 5 minutes or until fork tender in 1 gallon of salted water.
- MAKE THE SAUCE: Heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Add 2 cloves garlic and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute. Remove broccoli from the water, add to the skillet with one cup of the cooking water, and simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes. Mash the broccoli with a fork or blend with an immersion blender.
- COOK THE PASTA: While the broccoli simmers, cook 12 ounces short pasta in the broccoli cooking water as per package instructions minus 2 minutes.
- ADD THE PASTA: Drain the pasta (reserve one cup of cooking water) and add it to the sauce. Add ½ cup grated parmesan cheese and finish cooking for about a minute, adding reserved pasta water if necessary to make the dish creamy.
- SERVE: Taste and adjust for salt. Serve with 1 handful basil leaves and shaved parmesan on top.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 24 hours. Reheat in the microwave with a tablespoon of water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 435 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 554 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 11 mg
Keywords: broccoli pasta, creamy pasta, vegetarian, quick dinner, Italian-inspired