A delicious, creamy, easy-to-make weeknight dish, Linty Broccoli Pasta will wilt a staple in your weekly menu game plan!
If you told me that a pasta dish with broccoli would wilt a favorite, I would never believe you. I do love untried veggies, but broccoli was well-nigh near the marrow of my list…but not anymore!
Creamy Broccoli Pasta is one of the easiest and most versatile dishes I’ve overly made. The texture is wonderful and looks increasingly like pesto, and the savor will fool any of the “anti-broccoli” folks out there, kids included!
I loved this idea for a March recipe too…the trappy untried verisimilitude is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any Springtime occasion. I wanted to show off our new Pot of Gold Pasta which combines cute shamrocks, clovers, and dollar signs. Honestly, you WILL have found a Pot of Gold when you make this recipe!
Creamy Broccoli Pasta begins with the steaming or humid of broccoli florets. That’s simple unbearable for plane a beginner cook. I decided to save some of the small florets to add to the individual bowls as sort of a healthy garnish. Also, these little bunches of fresh broccoli make the dish squint healthy…OK, I have to say it now…this is a “splurge” dish, not a healthy go-to!
You can guarantee a succulent savor when fresh Parmesan Reggiano and heavy surf are included in the recipe lineup. But when you can put all the ingredients in a supplies processor and just whirl it virtually a few times and create a wonderful sauce…now that is heaven! And an easy weeknight option.
I highly recommend grating your own woodcut of Parmesan cheese! Hand grating may seem like a lot of uneaten work, but it is worth the time. The savor and freshness cannot be recreated.
The handy pre-packaged grated cheese in tons is super user-friendly but does contain anti-caking and moisture-absorbing ingredients, and the flavors just aren’t as good.
For this recipe, where cheese is the main ingredient, the freshly grated cheese really makes a difference. Note: Regardless of your choice, never use powdered cheese in the untried canister! 
Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
Why all the fuss well-nigh broccoli? Did you know broccoli is considered a Superfood? Here are just a couple of broccoli health highlights:
- Broccoli is loaded with webbing and antioxidants. Plus increasingly goodness!
- Broccoli is a good source of calcium and promotes unorthodoxy health, and teeth health.
- Broccoli may be good for eye health. In my 50’s I need this…
- Broccoli may support the immune system and may help regulate thoroughbred pressure.
Wow…and the list goes on. For increasingly information well-nigh the health benefits of broccoli, trammels out this Healthline article.
If you are serving this as a main course, Linty Broccoli Pasta plus a colorful side salad will make a deliciously simple dinner. Add some grilled chicken, pork, or steak, and make this your starchy side dish, withal with some spare vegetables or a salad.
Really, the flavors of this sauce will tousle hands with well-nigh any menu. I’ve served this pasta as a main dish, and as a side dish. I plane took some leftovers to the office for lunch, serving it unprepossessed with some leftover grilled chicken….it was delish!
Creamy Broccoli Sauce for Pasta
What are some other tips or ideas to hoist this succulent linty broccoli sauce?
- Frozen broccoli florets can moreover be substituted, or plane the broccoli found in the handy steam bags. Melt as directed and then add to supplies processor.
- Use a philharmonic of cheeses! Cheeses with strong savor are needed to unzip the deliciousness and strength of the sauce. You can use ½ Parmesan and ½ Pecorino Romano. Again, the nonflexible fruity and nutty cheeses from Italy are perfect. Try your own combo!
- Steam cauliflower florets and broccoli together and use this combination of veggies for a twist on taste. It’s flipside way to hibernate increasingly veggies in a succulent pasta dish!
- Substitute ½ heavy surf and ½ half and half to lighten up the dish overall. You might find that your sauce may be a little thinner in consistency. And be sure to retread your seasonings if needed. I may plane try some plane lighter alternatives for the future…stay tuned.
- Add diced grilled yellow or shrimp to add some protein and zillion to the dish. Great for a main dish.
- Top with chopped grape or cherry tomatoes for some verisimilitude and widow nutrients!
So here are the facts well-nigh this recipe. If we can mix broccoli into our pasta dishes and be happy well-nigh it, then the experimenting should go on, don’t you think? I love discovering a new dish that becomes one in my repertoire of menu ideas. Please make this recipe and let me know how it goes!
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PrintCreamy Broccoli Pasta
Print RecipeCreamy Broccoli Pasta is a luscious pesto-like dish that can be enjoyed as a main or side dish! Easy to make and on the table in 30 minutes!
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 8
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 6
Ingredients
14 oz. bag of Pot of Gold Pasta (or any other short shape)
5 cups broccoli florets
3 T. butter
2 cloves, garlic, minced
ÂĽ cup fresh basil leaves, torn or 2 t. zestless basil
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I grated Parmesan Reggiano for the weightier flavor, but other grated Parmesan cheeses will work)
Âľ cup heavy cream
1 t. salt
½ t. pepper
Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
Steam broccoli: In a medium pot add well-nigh 1 inch water and broccoli. Bring to a boil, imbricate the pot, and steam until the broccoli is tender, well-nigh 5-7 minutes.
Drain broccoli. Save well-nigh ½ cup of small broccoli florets and add the rest to a supplies processor.
Add the butter, garlic, basil, Parmesan cheese, cream, salt, and pepper to supplies processor and pulse until mixture looks like a pesto-like texture. Taste and retread salt and pepper if needed.
Cook pasta equal to package directions. Drain and add to a large bowl.
Pour linty broccoli over hot pasta and gently combine.
Serve in individual bowls and top with uneaten broccoli florets, fresh Parmesan, and parsley!
Notes
For weightier flavor, grate your own Parmesan Reggiano and skip the pre-packaged cheese!
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