Best 4 Pasta With Broccoli Pesto Recipes

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Pasta with broccoli pesto is a delightful dish that combines the flavors of fresh broccoli, aromatic basil, nutty pine nuts, and creamy Parmesan cheese. This vibrant dish is not only delicious but also visually appealing, making it perfect for any occasion. From the classic pesto sauce to variations like arugula pesto and sun-dried tomato pesto, this article offers a variety of recipes to suit different tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer a simple yet flavorful pesto sauce or a more complex one with added ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes or arugula, you'll find the perfect recipe here.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

BROCCOLI-WALNUT PESTO WITH PASTA



Broccoli-Walnut Pesto With Pasta image

Low in cholesterol and high in vitamins, broccoli packs this pesto with extra nutritional value. Using walnuts instead of the traditional pine nuts is less expensive, subtracts calories and adds fiber. Serve over whole wheat pasta, or try brown rice pasta for a gluten-free option.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/3 cup walnut halves
1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, plus a few sprigs, for garnish
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 1/2 cups chopped raw broccoli florets and tender stems (about 4 ounces)
1/4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Kosher salt
Juice of 1/2 small lemon (1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, Romano or grana padano cheese
10 ounces whole wheat or tri-color fusilli

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts out on a small baking pan and toast lightly, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  • Pulse together 1/4 cup of the walnuts and the garlic in a food processor; add the broccoli, basil, broth, nutmeg, red pepper flakes if using, 3/4 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice, and pulse until just combined. Slowly drizzle in the oil through the feed tube with the processor running and puree until a slightly chunky sauce forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add 2 tablespoons of the cheese and pulse until incorporated.
  • Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Toss the pasta with the pesto in the dry pot or a mixing bowl, along with some of the reserved cooking liquid. Add the remaining cooking liquid if needed and additional salt to taste.
  • Transfer the pasta to individual bowls and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon cheese. Chop the remaining walnuts and scatter on top. Garnish with basil leaves and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410 calorie, Fat 15.5 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Cholesterol 1 milligrams, Sodium 554 milligrams, Carbohydrate 57 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 13 grams, Sugar 3 grams

BROCCOLI PESTO PASTA



Broccoli pesto pasta image

A new delicious version of the Italian favourite, pesto pasta, with broccoli

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Dinner, Main course, Pasta, Supper

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 8

400g penne, farfalle or conchiglie pasta
250g broccoli, cut into florets
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 large lemon
½ tsp dried chilli flakes
3 tbsp pine nuts
5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated

Steps:

  • Tip the pasta into a large pan of boiling salted water and cook according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, bring a smaller pan of salted water to the boil, add the broccoli and boil for 4 minutes.
  • Drain the broccoli and return it to the pan. Lightly mash the broccoli with a potato masher or fork. Finely grate the garlic and zest the lemon, then mix into the broccoli with the chilli flakes and pine nuts. Cut the lemon in half and keep for later.
  • Drain the pasta and return it to the pan. Stir in the broccoli pesto and squeeze over the juice of 1⁄2 lemon. Pour in the olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper. Spoon in the grated Parmesan, toss the pasta well and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 604 calories, Fat 26 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 79 grams carbohydrates, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 19 grams protein, Sodium 0.47 milligram of sodium

GARLIC OIL SAUTEED PASTA WITH BROCCOLI



Garlic Oil Sauteed Pasta with Broccoli image

Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network

Time 18m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 head broccoli, sliced into very thin florets, stalk peeled and cut into matchsticks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Few tablespoons water or pasta cooking water, if needed
2 cups penne pasta, cooked al dente
Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Steps:

  • In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil, garlic, and pepper flakes over medium heat until fragrant. Once the garlic has turned golden in color, remove it from the pan. You are left with garlic-infused oil in the pan. Add the broccoli to the pan.
  • Cook's Note: Be sure the broccoli is completely dry before tossing it into the pan.
  • Toss the broccoli to coat with the oil. Season with salt and pepper and saute over medium heat until the broccoli barely loses some of its crunch, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat up to high and deglaze the pan with the red wine vinegar. Add a few tablespoons of water, if needed.
  • Cook's Note: Use pasta water if the pasta was made fresh.
  • Add in the pasta and toss to coat with the oil. Top with Parmesan cheese for serving.

PASTA WITH BROCCOLI PESTO



Pasta With Broccoli Pesto image

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Categories     weekday, pastas

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 1/2 cups broccoli flowerets (about 1/2 bunch broccoli)
Salt
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
2 medium-sized boiling potatoes, peeled and cut in 1-inch chunks
1 pound linguine
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Steam the broccoli flowerets about three minutes, until tender but still bright green. Rinse under cold water, then drain and set aside. Put a large pot of salted water on the stove to boil for the pasta.
  • When the broccoli is done, reserve four small flowerets for garnish and place the rest in the food processor along with the garlic and nuts. Process until finely ground.
  • With the machine running, pour the olive oil into the food processor through the feed tube. Stop the machine, scrape the sides, season with salt and pepper and process briefly. Transfer the mixture to a dish and set aside.
  • When the water is boiling, place the pototoes in the pot and boil for five minutes. Add the pasta, stir to separate the strands and cook until the pasta is al dente, about eight minutes. Drain potatoes and pasta together and transfer to a warm serving dish.
  • Toss the pasta and potatoes with the pureed broccoli mixture. Divide the pasta among four shallow bowls and garnish each serving with a reserved broccoli floweret and serve immediately with Parmesan cheese on the side.

Tips:

  • Choose the right pasta: Short pastas like penne or fusilli are best for this recipe, as they hold the pesto and broccoli florets well.
  • Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking it until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. This will help the pasta hold its shape and not become mushy.
  • Use fresh broccoli: Fresh broccoli has a brighter flavor and a more tender texture than frozen broccoli.
  • Blanch the broccoli: Blanching the broccoli briefly in boiling water helps to preserve its color and crunch.
  • Make the pesto ahead of time: Pesto can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. This will save you time on busy weeknights.
  • Use a food processor or blender to make the pesto: This will help to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
  • Season the pesto to taste: Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice or a handful of grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Toss the pasta with the pesto and broccoli: Be gentle when tossing the pasta so that the broccoli florets don't break apart.
  • Serve the pasta immediately: Pasta with broccoli pesto is best served hot or warm.

Conclusion:

Pasta with broccoli pesto is a quick and easy weeknight meal that is packed with flavor. The pesto is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, and it is tossed with cooked pasta and broccoli florets. This dish is a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables, and it is also a delicious and satisfying meal.

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