Broccoli & Garlic Pasta Delight with Parmesan and Lemon

Ingredients

- 12 ounces pasta (such as linguine or spaghetti)
- 1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 fresh lemon, zested and juiced
- Kosher salt, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Ingredients:
Begin by gathering all necessary ingredients. Cut the broccoli into florets, slice the garlic thinly, and zest then juice the lemon. Set these aside for easy access during cooking.

2. Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, usually about PT10M (10 minutes). Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta. Set aside.

3. Sauté the Broccoli:
In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the broccoli florets and a pinch of kosher salt. Sauté for about PT6M (6 minutes), stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is bright green and tender-crisp.

4. Add Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes:
Lower the heat to medium-low and add the thinly sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet with the broccoli. Cook for PT2M (2 minutes) until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden, being careful not to burn it.

5. Combine Pasta and Broccoli:
Add the drained pasta to the skillet, along with the reserved pasta water, starting with a 1/2 cup to help create a sauce. Toss everything together gently over low heat until the pasta and broccoli are well combined.

6. Finish with Parmesan and Lemon:
Turn off the heat. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss to coat the pasta thoroughly. Add more pasta water if necessary to achieve the desired sauce consistency.

7. Season and Serve:
Taste and adjust seasoning with more kosher salt if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Total Time

PT25M (25 minutes)

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Broccoli Pasta, Garlic Lemon Pasta, Parmesan Pasta, Easy Dinner, Quick Pasta Recipe, Broccoli Recipe, Pasta with Broccoli, Lemon Parmesan, Garlic Pasta, Vegetarian Dinner

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Approximately 1,200 calories for the entire dish

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