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Really Quick Broccoli Pasta

Recipe video above. This is a great emergency meal OR carb + veg side for all those times when your cupboards are bare except for broccoli, pasta, and some kind of cheese. It's saucy without using tons of oil, and there's loads of sub options. Quick and utterly scrumptious - loaded with tons of broccoli!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 634 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 350g / 12 oz dried short pasta (I used small shells)
  • 2 broccoli heads (BIG!)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (or more!)
Pasta Sauce (Notes for subs):
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (or more!)
  • 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup parmesan , finely grated
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (or fresh!)
  • 1/2 tsp+ red pepper flakes (add more if you want spicy!)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
Serving:
  • More parmesan

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of water with 2 tsp salt, add pasta.
While pasta is cooking:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Chop broccoli: Chop broccoli into small florets.
  2. Cook broccoli: Add broccoli into water 1 - 2 minutes before pasta is cooked.
  3. Sauce ingredients in jar: Place Sauce ingredients in a jar with lid.
  4. Reserve pasta water: SCOOP OUT 1 cup pasta cooking water just before draining. Then drain and return pasta back into same pot on turned off stove.
  5. Add pasta water into Sauce: Add 1/2 cup pasta water to Pasta Sauce jar, shake well.
  6. Add Sauce & Cheese to pasta: Pour Sauce and add cheese into pot with pasta.
  7. Stir then serve! Stir vigorously, adding more pasta water if required. Add more salt and pepper if required. Serve immediately, garnished with parmesan.

Notes

  • This recipe will serve 4 as a main or 6 to 8 as a side. To scale recipe, click Servings and slide.
  • Recipe substitutions:
  • Nutrition per serving as a main (4 servings).
  • Pasta - any short pasta is fine here, macaroni/elbow, twirls, penne, ziti, orecchiette etc.
  • Broccoli - this dish can take loads of broccoli, and still worth making even if you're a bit short (or scale recipe down - click on servings and slide).
  • Cheese - any melting cheese fine here, preferably flavoured like cheddar, Monterey Jack, tasty, gruyere, Swiss. Mozzarella also fine but you'll probably need more salt.
  • Parmesan - store bought pre grated fine in this recipe. OK if you don't have (as long as you have shredded cheese!)
  • Lemon - not intended to be a full on lemon pasta, but the subtle tang and hint of lemon is terrific. Feel free to jack up the lemon flavour. Subs: 1.5 tbsp more oil or a mild vinegar like white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, even rice wine.
  • Garlic - could stir through green onions instead, or add 1/2 tsp garlic or onion powder into Sauce. OR finely grate any onion and add 2 tbsp it into dressing (juices and all).

  • Herbs - mixed herbs includes a bit of rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano, dried basil. Feel free to use any you want, skip it, OR use fresh herbs

    1/2 cup sliced fresh basil right at the end would be amazing 1/4 - 1/2 cup chives, parsley 2 tbsp oregano

  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh basil right at the end would be amazing
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup chives, parsley
  • 2 tbsp oregano
  • Red pepper flakes - for touch of heat, totally optional
  • Sugar - totally optional (takes edge off the sour)

Nutrition Information

Calories 634cal (32%) Carbohydrates 71g (24%) Protein 23g (46%) Fat 29g (45%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 31mg (10%) Sodium 768mg (32%) Potassium 609mg (17%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1270IU (25%) Vitamin C 116.2mg (129%) Calcium 347mg (35%) Iron 2.4mg (13%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 634

% Daily Value*

Calories 634cal 32%
Carbohydrates 71g 24%
Protein 23g 46%
Fat 29g 45%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 768mg 32%
Potassium 609mg 13%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1270IU 25%
Vitamin C 116.2mg 129%
Calcium 347mg 35%
Iron 2.4mg 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.