Dad’s Pasta With Broccoli

Hi friends! Today I want to share one of my favorite recipes with you: Pasta with broccoli, a classic Italian dish that’s extra special because it is my dad’s recipe! Pasta with broccoli is an uncomplicated dish. With just pasta, oil, garlic, broccoli florets and optionally chicken, this recipe is easy to make, but it’s flavor still makes a statement. It doesn’t sound like much, but its beautifully comforting in its simplicity. My dad grew up working in my Nonna and Papa’s restaurant in New York. They were chef’s, and he learned a lot from not only them, but probably the rest of our family. Growing up, I always considered my dad a chef. He didn’t have a restaurant but he could’ve, and I was spoiled with delectable dishes from him and both sets of my grandparents. In fact, I was surrounded by delicious, rich food from the whole family. This pasta dish was one of them, served on many a school night and special family dinners. There is so much to learn from family, and I try to soak in as much as I can. I am really lucky to have been raised in a family where traditions and recipes are passed down, and I look forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned with you right here on this blog! In the mean time, lets jump into how to make this delightful pasta!

 

First, put a large pot of water on the stove on medium to high heat. Salt the water, and while waiting for it to boil, cut the broccoli into smaller pieces. Set aside.

Slice the garlic into thin slices. I know 8-10 cloves of garlic seems a little excessive, but we really rely on this flavor for most of the dish. You’re just gonna have to trust me on this one! Slicing the garlic as opposed to dicing will bring out more flavor in this recipe, so don’t skip this method!

After you’re done slicing the garlic, you can add olive oil to a pan, and then put the sliced garlic in the oil. Set this aside, and let the garlic’s flavor infuse into the olive oil. Do not put it on the heat yet!

At this point the water should be boiling. Add the broccoli and cook until it is soft. You’ll know it’s ready when you can easily pierce through the stem with a fork. I think soft broccoli blends best with this recipe, but obviously you can cook to preference if you prefer more of a bite.

While the broccoli cooks away, you can cook the chicken. My dad prefers to grill it, but any method of cooking will be fine here. Just as long as its lightly seasoned, you’re good to go! We just used salt and pepper. As previously mentioned, the chicken is also an optional step. Something I think many are surprised by is that chicken in pasta dishes is actually more Italian-American than Italian. Traditionally, Italians don’t really add chicken in their pasta dishes. More original versions of this recipe don’t have the chicken, so you can leave it out if you’d like. My family and I like this addition, so for this recipe I’m keeping it in :). Once the chicken is cooked, dice it or slice it and set aside.

Once your broccoli is cooked, remove it with a slotted spoon and put in a large bowl. DO NOT drain the water, because next we are going to cook the pasta in the same water.

Add the penne to the water and cook according to your box’s directions, until al dente. Using the same water will give the pasta even more flavor, and the ridges in the penne will catch the little pieces of broccoli. These little steps are what make such simple ingredients stand out.

When the pasta is almost done, cook the oil and garlic on medium heat until the garlic is slightly brown. Be very careful not to burn, as this oil mixture is going to flavor our pasta!

Drain the pasta and add to the bowl with broccoli along with the chicken. Add salt and pepper and toss it all together. When the garlic is  browned, pour the whole mixture over the pasta, garlic included, and give it one last mix to ensure the oil is evenly dispersed.

All that’s left to do is serve and enjoy! My dad likes this pasta with parmesan and red pepper flakes to top, which makes these flavors stand out even more!

I think this recipe will be a crowd pleaser in your home. It would be great for a family dinner, party, or even Father’s Day coming up! 🙂 I hope you’ll make it and let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

 

With Love,

Jenna