Description
A delicious and easy broccoli pasta recipe featuring tender broccoli florets cooked to perfection, combined with garlic, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese for a flavorful vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 head broccoli (large, cut into small florets)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Pantry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 12 ounces pasta (such as penne)
Dairy
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
Instructions
- Boil broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 5 minutes until tender. Transfer the cooked broccoli to a bowl and reserve ½ cup of the broccoli cooking water.
- Make broccoli mash: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, cooked broccoli, and reserved broccoli water. Cook and mash the broccoli with a spoon for 10 minutes until soft and well combined.
- Cook pasta: In the same pot used for boiling broccoli, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to package instructions.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the broccoli mash. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Season and serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve garnished with additional Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Notes
- Fresh broccoli gives the best color and flavor; frozen broccoli can be used but may result in a softer sauce.
- Salt the water generously when boiling broccoli and pasta to enhance flavor.
- Reserve some of the cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency or reheat leftovers.
- Short pasta shapes like penne or orecchiette hold the sauce better.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a smooth melt and richer flavor.
- For added protein, serve with grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy bacon.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; reheat gently with a splash of water or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
