Description
A comforting and wholesome bowl of pasta tossed with tender broccoli, garlic, olive oil, and a hint of Parmesan. Perfect for busy families looking for healthy, meat-free dinner ideas.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free)
- 1 large head of broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for dairy-free)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Reserved pasta water (about 1/2 cup)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
- When 3-4 minutes remain on the pasta cooking time, add the chopped broccoli to the same pot.
- Once pasta and broccoli are tender, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and then drain the rest.
- In the same pot or a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Return pasta and broccoli to the pot with the garlic oil mixture.
- Add Parmesan cheese and a splash of reserved pasta water, stirring to create a light sauce. Add more water as needed for desired consistency.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
To keep the dish light, use whole wheat pasta and moderate cheese. Add lemon juice for brightness or toss in extra veggies like spinach or zucchini. For a dairy-free version, use nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 5mg