To begin, gather the ingredients necessary for the dish. You will need around 500 grams of pasta (spaghetti or penne work well), a large head of broccoli, 2-3 cloves of garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, and some grated parmesan cheese (optional).
First, start boiling a pot of salted water for the pasta. While the water gets ready, wash the broccoli and chop into small pieces, separating the stalks from the florets. Peel and slice the garlic cloves.
Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and frozen-broccoli” title=”How to cook frozen broccoli”>cook according to package instructions, usually around 7-10 minutes. In the last 3-4 minutes of cooking time, add the broccoli stalks to the pasta pot. In the last minute, add the broccoli florets. This will ensure that the broccoli stalks cook longer and soften, while the broccoli florets keep their texture and color.
While the pasta is cooking, heat some olive oil in a large pan and add the garlic slices. Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and slightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can become bitter.
Once the pasta and broccoli are cooked, drain them and add them to the pan with the garlic. Toss everything together, adding more olive oil if necessary to coat the pasta and broccoli evenly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
If desired, sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese on top of the pasta and serve immediately.
This dish is a great choice for a quick weeknight dinner, as it is easy to and requires minimal ingredients. It is also a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, as broccoli is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
In addition, this dish can easily be customized to suit your taste preferences. You can add some red pepper flakes for a kick of spice, or some lemon zest for a citrusy flavor. You can also experiment with different types of pasta, such as whole-wheat or gluten-free, or even substitute the broccoli with other vegetables such as spinach or zucchini.
Overall, pasta with garlicky broccoli is a simple and delicious meal that is both satisfying and healthy. It is a great option for busy weeknights when you want to blanch-broccoli” title=”How to blanch broccoli”>prepare a flavorful and nutritious meal quickly and easily.