When an evening craving for pasta strikes, instead of ordering out, you can easily whip up a creamy broccoli pasta right in your own kitchen. The best part about this flavorful dish is that it requires minimal effort and comes together in a very short amount of time. It serves as a wonderful combination of great taste and good nutrition for your afternoon or evening tea-time snack.
Ingredients Needed for Creamy Broccoli Pasta
Before diving into the cooking process, gathering all the necessary ingredients in the right proportions is essential. For the broccoli puree, you will need water as required, a pinch of salt, 200 grams of broccoli, 15 almonds, and 2 to 3 garlic cloves. For the pasta itself, keep 200 grams of pasta, half a cup of sweet corn, 1 teaspoon of oil, a pinch of salt, and an extra 1 teaspoon of oil ready. Additionally, for the tempering and sauce, you need 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/3 cup of mushrooms, 1 red bell pepper, another teaspoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of garlic, 1 teaspoon of red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon of oregano, salt to taste, and a pinch of black pepper powder.
Boiling the Pasta and Preparing the Broccoli Puree
To begin the preparation, bring water to a boil in a large vessel and add a pinch of salt to it. Drop the broccoli, almonds, and garlic into the boiling water and cook until the broccoli turns tender. Transfer these boiled ingredients into a mixer grinder jar and blend until a smooth puree is formed. Using the exact same water in which the broccoli was boiled, add the pasta, sweet corn, oil, and a bit more salt, and turn off the heat once the pasta is cooked. Drizzle a little oil over the boiled pasta and mix gently so the pieces do not stick together.
Making the Sauce and Combining Everything
For the final step, heat oil in a pan, toss the mushrooms and sliced bell pepper on high heat for one minute, and transfer them to a bowl. In the same pan, add a bit more oil, garlic, oregano, and chili flakes, stirring well to cook the garlic for 30 seconds. Strain the prepared broccoli puree directly into this pan and mix thoroughly with the aromatics. Add the salt and black pepper powder, cooking for one to two minutes before tossing in the boiled pasta and corn. Adjust the consistency by pouring in a little reserved pasta water and cook for another one to two minutes. Your delicious broccoli pasta is now ready to serve, and you can also explore making red sauce pasta if you want another variation for your evening snack.
