Description
This quick and nutritious Broccoli Pasta recipe combines fresh broccoli, garlic, olive oil, and pasta to create a flavorful, wholesome meal ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners, it’s customizable for various dietary preferences including vegan and gluten-free options, and can be enhanced with cheese, nuts, or proteins.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 300g pasta (penne, spaghetti, or fusilli)
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp good quality olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Optional Ingredients
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (omit or replace with nutritional yeast for vegan)
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or walnuts
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta and Broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. About 4 minutes before the pasta is al dente, add the broccoli florets to cook simultaneously until tender-crisp. Drain both, reserving some pasta water.
- Sauté Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes: Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook gently until fragrant but not browned to release full flavor.
- Combine Pasta and Broccoli: Add drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to create a light sauce that coats the pasta and florets.
- Finish with Cheese and Seasoning: Turn off the heat. Stir in freshly grated parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste. Toss gently until the cheese starts to melt and combines with the olive oil and garlic.
- Serve Warm: Plate the broccoli pasta immediately, garnishing with optional toasted nuts and fresh herbs for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- Cook broccoli until just tender to preserve bright color and crunch.
- Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce and help flavors adhere.
- Use fresh garlic, minced finely for maximum flavor.
- High-quality olive oil and fresh parmesan greatly enhance the dish.
- Toss pasta and broccoli gently to avoid breaking florets.
- Frozen broccoli can be used but thaw and drain well beforehand.
- Gluten-free pasta can be substituted to make this recipe gluten-free.
- For vegan version, omit parmesan or use nutritional yeast instead.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling and Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 5mg