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Pasta with Broccoli Cream and Almonds

17/11/2023

Pasta with broccoli cream and almonds is a delicious and nutritious dish that is perfect for 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 peeled almonds
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Pasta cooking water to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional for vegan version)
  • Grated lemon zest (optional for a touch of freshness)

Preparation

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

  2. In the meantime, lightly toast the almonds in a non-stick pan until they turn golden brown. Then, let them cool down and chop them coarsely.

  3. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the package instructions to have it al dente, remember to save some of the cooking water before draining.

  4. While the pasta is cooking, fry the garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil in a large pan. Add the cooked broccoli and sauté for a few minutes, then remove the garlic.

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

  6. Put the broccoli cream back in the pan, adjust salt and pepper, and heat on low flame.

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

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

Curiosity

Broccoli is a vegetable highly appreciated in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in general, not only for its flavor but also for its nutritional properties, which include vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Almonds, besides providing a pleasant crunchy contrast, add a touch of sweetness and are a source of healthy fats.