Description
Light and Healthy Broccoli Pasta is a delicious and nutritious meal that combines tender broccoli with flavorful pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 large head broccoli, cut into small florets
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 12 oz shell pasta
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli and cook for about 5 minutes until tender.
- Remove the broccoli and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper.
- Add the cooked broccoli and the reserved water. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until very soft and easy to mash with a spoon.
- In the same pot, cook the shell pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the broccoli mash.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until fully combined.
- Add a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve warm with extra Parmesan on top.
Notes
- Mash the broccoli well to create a creamy, sauce-like texture.
- Reserved pasta water helps create a silky consistency.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly into the pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 900–1100
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 50–60 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 90–100 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 40–50 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: broccoli pasta, healthy pasta, light pasta dish