Really Quick Broccoli Pasta

 

 This is a great emergency meal OR carb + veg side for all those times when your cupboards are bare except for broccoli, pasta, and some kind of cheese. It's saucy without using tons of oil, and there's loads of sub options. Quick and utterly scrumptious - loaded with tons of broccoli!

Ingredients

350g / 12 oz dried short pasta (I used small shells)

2 broccoli heads (BIG!)

1 cup shredded cheese (or more!)

Pasta Sauce (Notes for subs):

2 tsp lemon zest

2 tbsp lemon juice (or more!)

5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup parmesan , finely grated

2 garlic cloves , minced

1 tsp mixed dried herbs (or fresh!)

1/2 tsp+ red pepper flakes (add more if you want spicy!)

1 tsp sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Serving:

More parmesan

Instructions

Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of water with 2 tsp salt, add pasta.

While pasta is cooking:

Chop broccoli: Chop broccoli into small florets.

Cook broccoli: Add broccoli into water 1 - 2 minutes before pasta is cooked.

Sauce ingredients in jar: Place Sauce ingredients in a jar with lid.

Reserve pasta water: SCOOP OUT 1 cup pasta cooking water just before draining. Then drain and return pasta back into same pot on turned off stove.

Add pasta water into Sauce: Add 1/2 cup pasta water to Pasta Sauce jar, shake well.

Add Sauce & Cheese to pasta: Pour Sauce and add cheese into pot with pasta.

Stir then serve! Stir vigorously, adding more pasta water if required. Add more salt and pepper if required. Serve immediately, garnished with parmesan.