Description
Creamy Broccoli Pasta is a delicious and simple dish that combines fresh broccoli with casarecce pasta in a rich, creamy sauce. Ideal for quick dinners, this recipe uses easy-to-find ingredients like garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, making it a comforting meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 340 g (12 ounces) dried casarecce pasta
- 500 g (1.1 lbs) broccoli – cut into small florets
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 large garlic cloves – finely chopped
- 310 ml (1 ¼ cups) heavy whipping/thickened cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 40 g (½ cup) parmesan cheese – freshly grated
- 3 tablespoon fresh basil leaves – finely chopped
- 1 cup pasta water – reserve before draining pasta
- sea salt and pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Boil a large saucepan of water and salt it. Add the broccoli for 2-4 minutes until just al dente. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Cook the casarecce pasta in the boiling water until just al dente.
- In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the chopped garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes without burning the garlic.
- Stir in the cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice, then bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the reserved broccoli back to the pan. Toss in the cooked pasta and enough pasta water to combine everything.
- Turn off the heat and mix in the Parmesan cheese, ensuring everything is coated evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve topped with fresh basil.
Notes
To keep the broccoli bright green, do not overcook it in the boiling water.
Reserve more pasta water if you prefer a creamier sauce.
For added flavor, try different herbs like thyme or parsley.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 80mg