Lemon Herb Pasta with Broccoli and Parmesan

Ingredients

- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces spaghetti pasta or bucatini pasta

Instructions

1. Prepare Ingredients: Chop 1 cup of broccoli into bite-sized florets, finely chop 1/4 cup of basil and 1/4 cup of parsley, mince 2 cloves of garlic, and zest and juice one lemon.

2. Cook Pasta: In a large pot, bring water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt and 8 ounces of spaghetti or bucatini pasta. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about PT10M (10 minutes).

3. Blanch Broccoli: In the last PT3M (3 minutes) of pasta cooking time, add the broccoli florets to the boiling water. This will blanch the broccoli and keep it vibrant.

4. Sauté Garlic: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about PT1M (1 minute).

5. Combine Components: Drain pasta and broccoli, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta and broccoli to the skillet with the garlic, tossing to coat everything in oil.

6. Flavor Boost: Stir in the chopped basil, parsley, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Pour in the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.

7. Adjust Consistency: Gradually add reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the pasta reaches your desired level of sauciness.

8. Finish and Serve: Remove from heat and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast. Toss everything together until well combined. Serve immediately, topping each plate with additional Parmesan if desired.

Total Time

PT20M
20 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Vegetarian pasta, Lemon herb pasta, Broccoli pasta, Summer dinner, Parmesan spaghetti, Easy dinner recipe, Bucatini dish, Garlic spaghetti, Healthy pasta meal, Quick dinner idea

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 1,200

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