Description
A simple and flavorful Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring tender broccoli, garlic, and a creamy Parmesan sauce. This easy recipe combines sautéed and blended broccoli with perfectly cooked pasta for a comforting meal that comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 or 2 Heads of broccoli depending on size
- 2 Garlic cloves
- Red chilli pepper (optional)
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 1/2 cups Pasta
- 1/4 cup (20 g) Parmesan cheese
Oils and Seasoning
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Broccoli: Use a small knife to remove the lower part of the broccoli stalk, then cut the broccoli into evenly sized florets. Rinse them thoroughly under cold running water to remove impurities.
- Cook Broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 10 minutes until they are tender but not mushy.
- Sauté Garlic: While the broccoli cooks, thinly slice the garlic cloves into rounds. In a large skillet, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat and gently brown the garlic slices. If you like heat, add some red chili pepper at this stage.
- Combine Broccoli & Garlic: Drain the cooked broccoli and transfer it to the skillet with the browned garlic. Cook together on low heat for about 10 minutes, breaking the broccoli into smaller pieces using a spatula. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Cook Pasta: In the same pot used for boiling the broccoli, add fresh salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until slightly al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Make Creamy Broccoli Sauce: Take half of the cooked broccoli and blend it together with the Parmesan cheese and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water until a smooth, creamy sauce forms.
- Toss Pasta and Broccoli: Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet containing the remaining broccoli. Pour in the creamy broccoli sauce and the rest of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything gently until well combined and heated through.
- Serve: Plate the pasta hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- Cook the pasta in the same water used to boil the broccoli for enhanced flavor and to save time and washing.
- Follow package instructions for pasta cooking time, tasting for al dente texture starting two minutes before the suggested time.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more salt or pepper as needed.
- Optional chili pepper adds a nice subtle heat but can be omitted for a milder dish.
