Description
A quick and wholesome dish featuring broccoli and pasta, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (spaghetti or whole wheat)
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 fresh lemon (juice and zest)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add your favored pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
- Sauté the broccoli: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Toss in minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add broccoli florets with a pinch of salt and pepper, stirring until they turn bright green and slightly tender—3 to 4 minutes.
- Combine pasta and broccoli: Add your drained pasta to the skillet, tossing with the broccoli. If it appears dry, stir in a bit of the reserved pasta water.
- Add flavor: Remove from heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese, along with a squeeze of lemon juice and zest. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with extra cheese and freshly cracked pepper if desired!
Notes
Feel free to substitute pasta for gluten-free options or use zucchini noodles for a low-carb version. This dish can also be made vegan by substituting cheese with nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: broccoli pasta, healthy pasta, quick meal, vegetarian recipes, family dinner