Best Pasta Con Broccoli Recipe

I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the pasta con broccoli recipe.

In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparation of pasta con broccoli. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more. 

Pasta Con Broccoli

Pasta con broccoli is an Italian dish with broccoli sauce and pasta. It is a simple and delicious meal highlighting the broccoli’s taste. Generally, pasta is cooked and mixed with garlic and cooked broccoli and anchovies for more flavour. You can also include red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese and olive oil to improve the flavour.

The broccoli is boiled or steamed before adding it to the pasta. You can cook it with onion, garlic, and breadcrumbs for a crunchy flavour. It results in a tasty and healthy meal that is easy to prepare and can be topped with a sprinkling of cheese.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simplicity Meets Flavor: You can prepare the recipe using simple ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, broccoli, and pasta. It highlights that cooking doesn’t need to be complex for impressive results.

• Quick and Easy: It is great for weeknights. It is easy to prepare and great as a filling meal without spending a lot of time.

• Nutritious and Satisfying: Loaded with whole grains and vegetables, this meal is healthy and tasty. Broccoli contains vitamins, fibre, and minerals and pasta provides energy.

• Versatile: You can toss in red pepper flakes for a little spiciness or mix in the veggies you want and you can also add parmesan cheese for more flavour.     

Tips

• Choose the right pasta: You can go for short pasta shapes such as fusilli, penne, or orecchiette because they hold the broccoli and sauce well.

• Blanch the Broccoli: Before adding broccoli to the pasta, ensure to boil it until crisp and tender. It enhances the colour of the broccoli and cooks evenly.

• Use garlic for flavour: Cook the garlic in olive oil until golden and smells nice. I provide a lot of flavour to the dish.

• Combine Pasta and Broccoli: Once the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water before draining. Add the broccoli to the pasta for the last few minutes of cooking. It helps them mix better.

• Season the Cooking Water: Ensure to salt the water generously before including the pasta. It improves the overall taste of the pasta.

Variations

• Pasta con Broccoli and Sausage: You can add Italian sausage for a savoury flavour. Brown the sausage and mix it with garlic, broccoli and onion in a sauce prepared with chicken broth.

• Pasta con Broccoli and Lemon: This variation contains a zesty and fresh flavour from lime juice. It also contains parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts for a crunchy and rich flavour.

• Pasta con Broccoli and Anchovies: It contains anchovy fillets that mix with garlic and olive oil to provide the broccoli with a savoury and rich flavour. It is also topped and seasoned with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes respectively.

• Pasta con Broccoli and Ricotta: It contains ricotta cheese for a bit of sweet and rich flavour. At first, the broccoli is cooked with garlic and mixed with ricotta and pasta with a hint of lime.

• Vegan Pasta con Broccoli: You can consider this dairy-free option that offers nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavour. It is combined with cooked broccoli, olive oil garlic and toasted pine nuts as a topping.

What to serve

• Garlic Bread: You can try garlic bread, as it helps absorb the extra sauce and provides a delicious crunch to the pasta.

• Roasted Vegetables: You can try roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers or eggplant, they provide an additional texture and flavour to the meal.

• Grilled Chicken: You can also try grilled chicken or sausage which makes the meal more comforting and satisfying.

• Antipasto Platter: You can also serve a mix of cheeses, cured meats, olives and marinated vegetables is a great side dish or appetizer.

• Fresh Fruit: For a refreshing and light meal, you can try fresh fruit such as berries, grapes or melon.

Storing and Freezing

Storing

• Before storing, let the pasta con broccoli cool at room temperature.

• Ensure to transfer it to the air-tight container to avoid it from drying out.

• You can put it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freezing

• Before freezing, the pasta con broccoli cool at room temperature.

• You can use heavy-duty freezer bags or freezer-safe containers also to ensure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.

• Label the container or the bag with the date and content to keep track of the freshness.

• You can store it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pasta con broccoli meal is not just satisfying and comforting, it also highlights how simple ingredients can make great flavours. This meal with its crispy broccoli, tender pasta and garlic olive sauce, shows the magic of quality and fresh ingredients.

Enjoying the pasta con broccoli not just appreciate the taste but also the satisfaction of making a healthy and nutritious dish. So, next time you are craving a classic and easy recipe you can try the pasta con broccoli as a perfect dish.

Read More:- Gochujang Pasta Recipe