Light and Healthy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
A light and healthy broccoli pasta featuring a flavorful broccoli mash sauce infused with garlic and red pepper flakes, combined with perfectly cooked shell pasta and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a simple yet delicious meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Broccoli and Sauce:
- 2 tbsp olive oil (California Olive Ranch EVOO recommended)
- Black pepper, to taste (freshly ground)
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 large broccoli head, cut into small florets
- Salt, to taste
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz shell pasta
For Serving:
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets 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 for later use.
- Prepare the Broccoli Mash: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Then add the cooked broccoli along with the reserved broccoli water. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli softens enough to be easily mashed with a spoon.
- Cook the Pasta: Use the same pot that you prepared the broccoli water in to cook the shell pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Combine Pasta with Broccoli Mash: Transfer the drained pasta into the skillet containing the broccoli mash. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir everything together until well combined. If the sauce appears too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Season and Serve: Taste the combined dish and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to help adjust sauce consistency if it becomes too thick.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for better melting and enhanced flavor.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Broccoli can be mashed to your desired texture—smooth or chunkier based on preference.
- This dish can be made vegetarian if you use vegetarian Parmesan cheese.
Keywords: broccoli pasta, healthy pasta recipe, broccoli mash sauce, easy vegetarian dinner, quick pasta recipes
