Pasta Broccolini e Patate (baby broccoli and potato pasta)

Pasta e broccoli is a staple southern Italian easy to cook dish that tastes fresh, wholesome and can be cooked all in the same pot!
Some would have referred to Pasta e Broccoli as peasant food, however I have come to learn that peasant food is the tastiest.

For this recipe you only need 6 ingredients... pasta, broccolini (or normal tender broccoli), potato, olive oil, chilli & parmesan cheese.

I used some home made rigatoni and fusilli pasta that I had in the freezer from a previous cook up to make this meal (a mix of varieties always works great!) however you can use any type of pasta to include orecchiette, pappardelle, spaghetti or pasta of the gluten free variety in any shape or form. I'll be using gluten free pasta the next time i make this dish.

Broccolini Vs Broccoli for this dish....
Broccolini are sweeter and have delicate stalks that do not require any peeling, these are my preferred ingredient for this dish.
 
What you will need...
* One large pot filled with water and one flat teaspoon of salt
* Large colander

Ingredients 
(to serve 4)  
* 2 bunches broccolini (approx 400 grams)
* 4 medium sized potatoes
* 400 grams of pasta
* 1 small red chilli with seeds removed
* 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
* Parmesan to sprinkle on top

How to cook your "Pasta e Broccoli"
1. Peel your potatoes and roughly cube into 1-2 cm cubes and add to a pot of boiling salted water.
2. Rinse the broccolini and chop into 4-5cm stalks and add in to the same pot.
3. Allow ingredients to boil on high heat for approximately 20-25 minutes until they soften.

4. Add your pasta into the water and let all ingredients cook together until your pasta is cooked to your liking.

5. Take the pot off the heat and strain into a colander. Keep the pot aside.
6. Add your chilli and transfer back into the pot.

7. Dress the pasta with extra virgin olive oil and mix.
8. Pasta is now read to serve. Don't forget to add the parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top.

Tip: Over cooking your potatoes isn't a problem for this dish, the more crumblier and over cooked the better it will coat your pasta and provide an even better taste.

Counting Calories & Health Benefits?
This pasta e broccoli dish contains approximately 570 calories with zero cholesterol. Adding raw extra virgin olive oil to a balanced diet can reduce chronic disease development and increase life expectancy. Broccoli contains healthy levels of Vitamin A, C & K. It also provides a good source for fiber, zinc and phosphorous. Click for more information on the health benefits of Broccoli.


This pasta broccoli recipe is easy and one that I had to share. I hope you love it as much as we do!

If you have any questions, please post your comments.

Buon Appetito!

x Steph