Description
A quick and easy broccoli pasta recipe perfect for a fast, delicious meal using just a few staple ingredients like broccoli, pasta, and cheese. This saucy dish is made with a vibrant lemon and garlic sauce, enhanced with parmesan and herbs, offering a nutritious, comforting option ideal for weeknights or when your pantry is running low.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 350g / 12 oz dried short pasta (small shells recommended)
- 2 large broccoli heads, chopped into small florets
- 1 cup shredded cheese (any melting cheese, feel free to add more)
Pasta Sauce
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (adjust to taste)
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup parmesan, finely grated
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (or fresh herbs)
- 1/2 tsp+ red pepper flakes (adjust for spice preference)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For Serving
- Extra parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tsp salt. Add the dried pasta and cook according to package instructions until almost done.
- Chop broccoli: While pasta is cooking, chop broccoli into small florets to ensure even cooking and tender bites.
- Cook broccoli: About 1-2 minutes before pasta is done, add the chopped broccoli florets directly into the boiling pasta water to cook together. This will soften the broccoli while saving time and pots.
- Prepare sauce ingredients: Place lemon zest, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, finely grated parmesan, minced garlic, mixed dried herbs, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and black pepper into a jar with a secure lid.
- Reserve pasta water and drain pasta: Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta and broccoli, then return them to the now-empty pot on the turned-off stove.
- Combine sauce and pasta water: Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce jar. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously to emulsify the sauce ingredients well.
- Add sauce and cheese to pasta: Pour the shaken sauce over the pasta and broccoli in the pot, add the shredded cheese, and stir vigorously to coat everything evenly. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the pasta and add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference. Serve immediately, garnished generously with extra parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Use any short pasta shape like shells, penne, or fusilli for best results.
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes according to your taste.
- The sauce can be customized by substituting parmesan with other hard cheeses like pecorino.
- Reserve extra pasta water as it helps to adjust sauce consistency and binds the sauce to the pasta.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted for dried herbs if available, use about three times the amount of dried herbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Mains, Side
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Western
