Light Healthy Broccoli Pasta (Printable Version)
Shell pasta tossed with creamy broccoli mash, garlic, olive oil and Parmesan for a quick, nutritious weeknight dinner.
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 large broccoli head, trimmed into small florets
02 -
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
03 -
3 garlic cloves, minced
04 -
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
05 -
Salt and black pepper, to taste
06 -
340g (12 ounces) shell pasta
07 -
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
# Steps:
01 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook for about 5 minutes until tender. Once cooked, transfer the broccoli to a bowl and reserve ½ cup of the broccoli cooking water to use later.
02 -
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, followed by the cooked broccoli and reserved broccoli water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli becomes soft enough to mash easily with a spoon.
03 -
Using the same pot with the broccoli water, add the shell pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly once cooked.
04 -
Transfer the drained pasta into the skillet with the broccoli mash. Add Parmesan cheese and stir everything together until well combined. Adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding a splash of reserved pasta water if it appears too thick.
05 -
Taste the pasta dish and adjust with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
# Notes:
01 -
This dish can be made ahead and reheated gently with a splash of water or olive oil.
02 -
For a protein boost, add grilled chicken or sautéed shrimp.