Il Cucinologo
EN

Pasta with Broccoli Cream and Almonds

17/11/2023

Pasta with broccoli cream and almonds is a delicious and nutritious dish that lends itself well to an Italian-flavored dinner. Here is the recipe to prepare it.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne or fusilli work well with this recipe)
  • 1 large broccoli or 2 medium
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 50 g of blanched almonds
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Pasta cooking water to taste
  • grated Parmesan (optional for vegan version)
  • Grated lemon zest (optional for a touch of freshness)

Preparation

  1. Wash the broccoli and cut it into florets. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook the broccoli in it for about 7-10 minutes until tender.

  2. Meanwhile, lightly toast the almonds in a non-stick pan until golden. Then, let them cool and roughly chop them.

  3. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the times indicated on the package to keep it al dente, remembering to reserve some of the cooking water before draining.

  4. While the pasta cooks, in a large pan sauté the garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil. Add the cooked broccoli and let it flavor for a few minutes, then remove the garlic.

  5. Transfer the broccoli to a blender adding a bit of cooking water to facilitate blending. Blend until you get a smooth cream, if necessary add more cooking water to reach the desired consistency.

  6. Return the broccoli cream to the pan, adjust salt and pepper and heat over low heat.

  7. Add the drained pasta to the broccoli cream and mix well to flavor it. If the pasta is too thick, add a little more cooking water.

  8. Plate and sprinkle with the toasted almonds and, if desired, with grated Parmesan and lemon zest.

Fun Facts

The broccoli is a vegetable highly appreciated in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in general, not only for its taste but also for its nutritional properties, which include vitamins, minerals and fibers. Almonds, in addition to providing a pleasant crunchy contrast, add a touch of sweetness and are a source of healthy fats.