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Pasta with Broccoli Pesto and Diced Ham

17/11/2023

Pasta with broccoli pesto and diced ham is a delicious dish that combines the creamy and slightly sweet taste of broccoli with the salty and intense flavor of ham. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

  • 350 g of short pasta (penne, orecchiette, fusilli)
  • 300 g of broccoli
  • 100 g of diced cooked ham
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 30 g of pine nuts
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 50 ml of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Start by washing the broccoli thoroughly and dividing it into small florets. Cook them in a pot with plenty of salted water for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are tender but not falling apart. Drain, preserving the cooking water to cook the pasta.

  2. While the broccoli is cooking, put a pan on the heat and lightly toast the pine nuts for 1-2 minutes, making sure not to burn them. Then transfer them to a plate and let them cool.

  3. Take some of the cooked broccoli florets (about a third) and place them in a blender along with the extra virgin olive oil, the toasted pine nuts, the Parmesan, the garlic (having removed the central core to make it more digestible) and a bit of salt and pepper. Blend everything until you get a smooth cream – this will be your broccoli pesto.

  4. Put the broccoli cooking water back on the fire and, once it boils, cook the pasta al dente according to the times indicated on the package.

  5. In the meantime, take a large pan and sauté the diced ham with a drizzle of oil until they become crispy.

  6. Drain the pasta while preserving some of the cooking water and put it in the pan with the diced ham. Add the broccoli pesto, a bit of the cooking water to blend well, and the remaining whole florets.

  7. Toss everything together for a minute or two, so that the flavors blend perfectly.

  8. Serve hot, offering additional Parmesan for those who want it.

Curiosity

Broccoli pesto is a nutrient-rich and colorful variant of the more famous Genoese pesto. It is a versatile recipe that allows you to use seasonal vegetables and enrich your pasta dishes with new flavors. Moreover, broccoli is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, making this dish tasty as well as good for your health!

Pasta with Broccoli Pesto and Diced Ham