This lemony pasta with broccoli is a quick, easy, and affordable family dinner, perfect for changing up your pasta night. And the best thing is it takes only 20 minutes to make!
| Preparation time 10 minutes | Cooking time 12 minutes |
| Serves serves 8 (leftovers desired!) | Dietary V |
.
Affordability Rating
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When Brock Lea wants to have her friends around, she often shows off this dish! Its vitamin A and calcium levels make this dish super healthy, AND it’s something she can cook with her parents.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ingredients
A tip from Brock Lea: You can use whichever type of pasta you prefer. If you want the pasta gluten-free, replace the pasta cooking water with vegetable broth or stock to help make the sauce smooth.
- 450g pasta
- 450g broccoli florets (about 2 small broccoli heads)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 210g fat-free ricotta cheese
- 50g grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (squeezed from 1 whole lemon)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic power
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Method
- Clean, clean, clean! Clean down all your work surfaces.
- Prepare pasta according to package directions, using a large pot.
- Add the broccoli for the last 3 minutes of cooking. Put aside ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Drain pasta and broccoli. Return to the pot and toss with butter.
- Meanwhile, add the ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt (be gentle with how much!), Parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup cold water to a blender.
- Blend until smooth (as smooth as jazz…).
- Add the cheese mixture to the pot with the pasta and broccoli. Gently mix together, adding a little of the reserved pasta water at a time until a smooth, but thick sauce forms.
- Transfer pasta to a large bowl and top with additional cheese to serve—if desired (it’s okay to want a cheesy topping, just be gentle with how much!).
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat to serve, stirring in a little of the reserved pasta water, regular water, or broth if needed.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be an expensive ordeal. In fact, it doesn’t have to be an ordeal at all! Each Veginom recipe is rated from 1 to 3, with 1s as simple healthy dishes scrapped together for cheap, and 3s to splash out and impress any you are cooking for!
We at Veginom want to help you and your children’s health in any way we can! Promoting a healthy lifestyle is our goal for the future of today’s children. If you need any further assistance, then feel free to contact us here.