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Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe

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4.2 from 5 reviews

This Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta is a delicious and comforting dish combining tender broccoli, a rich cream sauce, and gooey mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it features sautéed garlic and onions simmered in heavy cream and cheese, tossed with al dente ditalini pasta for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 1 Yellow Onion, diced
  • 500 g Fresh Broccoli, chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced

Dairy

  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 2 cups Heavy Cream
  • 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 8 oz Parmesan Cheese, grated (plus additional for garnish)

Pantry

  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 16 oz Ditalini Pasta
  • 1/2 cup Pasta water (reserved)
  • Salt, to taste (about 2 teaspoons)
  • Black Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, melt the butter together with olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, cooking until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt to enhance flavor.
  2. Cook Broccoli: Add the chopped broccoli to the skillet and sauté for an additional 5 minutes. The broccoli should be tender but still maintain its vibrant green color. Season with another teaspoon of salt to further season the vegetables.
  3. Prepare Cream Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the broccoli mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer, then stir in shredded mozzarella cheese continuously until it melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste.
  4. Cook Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the ditalini pasta in a separate pot according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta to use in the sauce.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the broccoli cream sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water and gently toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the cheesy sauce.
  6. Finish with Parmesan: Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir until it melts and fully incorporates into the sauce, adding a rich finishing touch.
  7. Serve: Serve the creamy broccoli pasta immediately, garnished with additional parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired. Enjoy warm for the best comforting flavor.

Notes

  • Reserve pasta water is important as the starchy water helps loosen the sauce and allows it to stick better to the pasta.
  • Feel free to use other short pasta shapes if ditalini is not available, such as penne or elbow macaroni.
  • For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a blend of milk and cream, though sauce richness will be reduced.
  • This dish can be made vegetarian as written but is not vegan due to the dairy ingredients.
  • To add protein, consider tossing in cooked chicken or crispy pancetta.

Find it online: https://flavorspath.com/cheesy-and-creamy-broccoli-pasta-recipe/