Home

Pasta with Broccoli, Cherry Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs

17/11/2023

Pasta with broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and breadcrumbs is a simple and delicious dish that combines the flavors of vegetables with the rustic taste of toasted bread. Here’s an Italian twist on the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne rigate or orecchiette work very well)
  • 300 g of broccoli
  • 150 g of cherry tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 100 g of stale bread crumbs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Chili pepper (optional)
  • A handful of grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

  1. Clean the broccoli by separating the florets from the stems and wash them under running water.
  2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the broccoli for about 5-6 minutes until al dente. Drain them, keeping the cooking water.
  3. In a wide pan, heat two tablespoons of oil and fry the garlic until it starts to turn golden, then remove it.
  4. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the pan, letting them sauté for a few minutes.
  5. Coarsely chop the bread crumbs and toast them in a pan with a drizzle of oil and chili pepper until they become crispy and golden. Remove and set aside.
  6. Add the broccoli to the pan with the cherry tomatoes and sauté together for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. In the meantime, cook the pasta in the broccoli cooking water until it reaches the desired doneness.
  8. Drain the pasta when it’s al dente and pour it into the pan with the broccoli and cherry tomatoes. Mix well to flavor.
  9. Serve the pasta sprinkled with the toasted breadcrumbs (and Parmesan if you’re using it).

A touch of Italianness: The crispy breadcrumbs are perfect for adding that crunchy texture and rustic flavor that beautifully pairs with the sweetness of the broccoli and the acidity of the cherry tomatoes, typical of Mediterranean cuisine.

Curiosity

This dish is an example of how in the kitchen one can turn necessity into virtue, by using simple and recovery ingredients like stale bread to enrich and bring new life to a pasta dish. Moreover, the combination of bread and vegetables is quite common in the cuisines of Southern Italy, where local resources are valued to create delicious and sustainable dishes.

Pasta with Broccoli, Cherry Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs