Description
Creamy lemony broccoli pasta with melted cheese bliss delivers comfort straight from Italian kitchens to your dinner table. Rich parmesan, zesty lemon, and tender broccoli create a perfect harmony you’ll crave with every delightful forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 350 grams (12 ounces) dried short pasta (shells, penne, or macaroni)
- 2 large heads broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or gruyere)
- 1/3 cup finely grated parmesan
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon mixed dried herbs
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Oils and Seasonings:
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil a generously salted water pot, preparing to cook pasta precisely according to package instructions for optimal texture.
- Carefully deconstruct broccoli into delicate, bite-sized florets, ensuring uniform cooking potential.
- Strategically introduce broccoli into the bubbling water approximately 2 minutes before pasta reaches complete doneness, allowing synchronized cooking.
- Craft a vibrant dressing by combining zesty lemon essence, tangy juice, fruity olive oil, aged parmesan, aromatic garlic, fragrant herbs, fiery red pepper flakes, subtle sugar, and balanced seasoning in a tightly sealed jar.
- Extract and preserve one cup of starchy pasta water before draining, then return pasta and broccoli to the original cooking vessel.
- Infuse the sauce mixture by incorporating half a cup of reserved liquid, then vigorously shake the jar to create a smooth, emulsified dressing.
- Pour the dynamic sauce and generously shredded cheese into the pasta pot, stirring enthusiastically until cheese completely dissolves, creating a luxurious, glossy coating. Incrementally introduce additional reserved water to achieve desired consistency.
- Perform a final flavor calibration, adjusting salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, crowned with an additional sprinkle of parmesan for enhanced richness.
Notes
- Make sure the pasta water is generously salted to enhance the overall flavor of the dish, creating a more robust taste profile.
- Choose fresh, crisp broccoli with tight, green florets to ensure a vibrant color and optimal texture when cooked.
- Shake the sauce vigorously in a sealed jar to create a smooth, well-combined emulsion that coats the pasta evenly.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cheese with low-fat alternatives or use nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg