A quick and wholesome pasta dish with tender broccoli, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan. Perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or meatless dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
-
12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)
-
4 cups fresh broccoli florets
-
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
-
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
-
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
-
Juice of 1 lemon
-
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
-
Salt and black pepper, to taste
-
Reserved pasta water (about ½ cup)
Instructions
-
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions.
-
In the last 3–4 minutes of pasta cooking, add the broccoli florets to the same pot.
-
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic (and red pepper flakes if using) until fragrant, about 1 minute.
-
Drain pasta and broccoli, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
-
Add pasta and broccoli to the skillet with garlic oil. Toss to coat.
-
Stir in lemon juice, Parmesan, and a splash of pasta water to loosen the mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Serve warm with extra Parmesan or a drizzle of olive oil.