Description
Mediterranean-inspired garlic broccoli olive oil pasta promises pure comfort on a plate. Quick weeknight dinners never tasted so deliciously simple, letting fresh ingredients shine while satisfying hungry diners with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 oz (226 grams) penne pasta
- 6 cups broccoli florets (fresh or thawed)
- 4 whole garlic cloves (smashed)
- 3 minced garlic cloves
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Sea salt (to taste)
- Fresh black pepper (to taste)
Garnish:
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare a large frying pan by heating olive oil over medium-low temperature, creating a gentle cooking environment.
- Introduce whole garlic cloves and fresh broccoli florets into the pan, seasoning with a pinch of salt and ground black pepper to enhance the natural flavors.
- Gently sauté the broccoli and garlic, stirring consistently until the vegetables reach a tender consistency that can be easily pierced with a fork.
- Simultaneously, bring a separate pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil for cooking the pasta.
- Submerge the pasta in the boiling water and cook until it reaches the perfect al dente texture, typically 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta variety.
- Once the broccoli is tender, carefully remove and discard the whole garlic cloves, leaving behind the infused vegetables.
- Create a small clearing in the center of the pan and add finely minced garlic and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to intensify the aromatic profile.
- Allow the minced garlic and pepper flakes to release their fragrance, stirring continuously for approximately 2 minutes.
- Drain the cooked pasta, reserving a small amount of pasta water for potential sauce adjustment.
- Transfer the pasta directly into the pan, gently tossing to coat each strand with the savory broccoli and garlic mixture.
- Fine-tune the seasoning by adding additional salt, ground black pepper, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste preferences.
- Serve the pasta on warm plates, generously garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Complete the dish with a delicate drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for added richness and shine.
Notes
- Garlic cloves release incredible flavor when cooked slowly, infusing the entire dish with rich, mellow undertones.
- Cooking broccoli in olive oil helps retain its vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture, preventing nutrient loss.
- Red pepper flakes add a subtle heat that builds gradually, creating depth and complexity in each bite.
- Pasta water’s starchy residue helps create a silky sauce that perfectly coats every strand and broccoli floret.
- Grated Parmesan cheese provides a salty, umami finish that elevates the simple ingredients to a restaurant-quality meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing, Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg