Pasta with broccoli and pancetta. – The pasta project

Pasta with broccoli is a classic Italian recipe that is super quick and easy to make and loved by many. This version includes pancetta, but you can replace it with other meat, fish or vegetables.

A little broccoli history.

Did you know that broccoli originated in southern Italy about 2,000 years ago? Yes, it was the Italians who gave the world broccoli, although this popular nutritious vegetable is now grown in many countries.

According to Wikipedia, the word ‘broccoli’ comes from the Italian ‘broccolo’, which means ‘the flowering head of cabbage’. In fact, broccoli was originally developed from wild cabbage.

Apparently, broccoli’s popularity and cultivation did not spread to Northern Europe until the 18th century, and it was Italian immigrants who introduced it to North America in the 19th century.

The most well-known type of broccoli is Calabrese broccoli, named after the Italian region of Calabria.

Penne pasta with broccoli and pancetta.Penne pasta with broccoli and pancetta.

Italian broccoli recipes.

Italians love broccoli! My Sicilian husband makes it very often as a side dish with anchovies, olives and croutons! Here in Italy, broccoli is usually boiled and then served plain with olive oil or sautéed or baked with other ingredients. However, broccoli soup, fritters and broccoli pasta are also very popular.

Ingredients for broccoli pasta with pancetta.Ingredients for broccoli pasta with pancetta.

Pasta with broccoli around Italy!

Broccoli is used in pasta recipes in both Northern and Southern Italy. Southern Italians traditionally make pasta with broccoli with garlic, anchovies, pine nuts and raisins or sometimes peperoncino, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes or olives.

In both North and South, broccoli pasta dishes often include meats such as pancetta (as in this recipe), speck or sausage, or even canned tuna. In coastal areas, it is common to find pasta with broccoli and shellfish such as squid, calamari or shellfish.

The pasta.

I used penne rigate from pasta makers Felicetti to make this broccoli pasta recipe. However, most types of pasta go well with broccoli. Many Italians use pasta tubes and others go for long noodles such as spaghetti or bucatini. In the south, orechiette, cavatelli and casarecce are traditional types of pasta paired with broccoli.

Penne rigate made by Felicetti.Penne rigate made by Felicetti.

Ingredients in this pasta with broccoli recipe.

The pasta: As mentioned above, you can use many different types of pasta for this recipe.

The broccoli: You can use fresh or frozen broccoli. I prefer to use fresh organic vegetables when they are in season. Broccoli is generally a cold weather (fall and winter in Italy) although in some places you can find it year round. Frozen broccoli needs less preparation and cooking time. So recipe preparation is of course much faster.

A head of broccoli cut into 4 pieces.A head of broccoli cut into 4 pieces.
Step 1 Wash the broccoli and cut it into quarters. Cook in salted water until cooked.

Garlic: Garlic is the only flavoring agent in this recipe, and it’s good to be generous with it if you love garlic. Fresh garlic is a must to get the right taste.

Pancetta: Fresh pancetta with a good balance of meat and fat is best for this recipe. I used pre-cut pancetta tubes which are widely available in Italy. In its absence, diced fatty or streaky bacon can be used as a suitable substitute.

Step by step instructions.

Prepare the ingredients: Peel and chop the garlic, wash the broccoli and cut the head into 4 pieces, and dice the pancetta if it is not already done.

Step 1: Cook the broccoli in salted water until slightly soft. Remove the broccoli but keep the water boiling and add the pasta. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package.

Step ⅔: Fry the pancetta with a little olive oil until brown. Remove the pancetta to a bowl lined with kitchen paper to drain the fat. Remove some of the rendered fat from the pan.

Broccoli florets in a pot with chopped garlic and a fork.Broccoli florets in a pot with chopped garlic and a fork.

Step 4: Cut the drained broccoli into small florets and put it in the roasting pan with the chopped garlic and a little olive oil. Sauté for 5 minutes, then add a few spoonfuls of the water the pasta is cooking in. Saute the broccoli and garlic for 5-10 minutes, then mash some of the broccoli with a fork to create a creamier sauce.

Cooked pancetta cubes in a frying pan with cooked broccoli florets.Cooked pancetta cubes in a frying pan with cooked broccoli florets.

Step 5: Add the pancetta to the broccoli and garlic. Mix well together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cooked penne pasta with broccoli and pancetta in a frying pan.Cooked penne pasta with broccoli and pancetta in a frying pan.

Step 6: Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the broccoli and pancetta.

Grated grana cheese added to frying pan with pasta and broccoli.Grated grana cheese added to frying pan with pasta and broccoli.

Step 7: Add ⅔ of the grated cheese to the pasta and broccoli. Mix everything again on low heat until the cheese starts to melt, then serve.

Replacements and tips.

Instead of pancetta or bacon, you can make this pasta with broccoli recipe with Italian sausage meat or bacon. The sausage may need longer cooking and the stain less.

You can also replace the meat with canned tuna. This does not require pre-boiling. Just add it to the broccoli and garlic after you’ve mashed the florets a bit.

This pasta with broccoli can also be served at room temperature as a pasta salad, making it a super food recipe as well as a delicious option for picnics and potlucks.

What to do with leftovers.

If you have leftovers, store them sealed in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Then heat them up in the microwave or bake them with a little more grated cheese on top. Add some mozzarella to make the leftovers even cheesier!

Can I make this recipe gluten free?

This broccoli pasta is easy to make gluten-free if you use gluten-free pasta.

Can I make this recipe dairy free?

All you need to do to make this recipe dairy free is to leave out the cheese or use a vegan cheese.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Frozen broccoli works well in this recipe as it cuts down on prep and cooking time. However, I prefer fresh broccoli because of its nutritional value and taste.

Pin for later.

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Italian broccoli pasta recipe.Italian broccoli pasta recipe.

As you can see, pasta with broccoli is a quick and easy dish that is also very versatile. So if you haven’t tried it before, I really recommend you do. Not only is it delicious, but a great way to get kids to eat their greens, especially if you add lots of crispy pancetta and grated cheese!

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Write a comment here on the blog or write a comment on the Pasta Project’s Facebook page.

Good appetite!

Pasta with broccoli.Pasta with broccoli.

Quick and easy Italian pasta with broccoli.

Jacqui

A delicious classic Italian winter pasta recipe that is a tasty way to get the kids to eat their greens! Perfect as a pasta salad, baked pasta or a quick family meal.

Preparation time 10 minutes

Cooking time 35 minutes

Total time 45 minutes

Course lunch, main course, pasta salad

Kitchen Italian, Mediterranean, Northern Italy

Servings 4

Calories 774 kcal

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces penne pasta (or pasta of your choice)
  • 1 medium broccoli washed and cut into quarters
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic peeled and chopped
  • 7 ounces diced pancetta (or lardons)
  • 3 ounces Parmigiano or Grana cheese demolished
  • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • salt for cooking and taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Start by washing and cutting the broccoli into 4 pieces and cook it in salted boiling water for about 10 minutes (until al dente). Peel and chop the garlic and cut if necessary. Dice the pancetta.

  • Cook the pancetta cubes in a small frying pan with just a little oil (it has its own fat) until the pieces are brown and crispy! Remove the pancetta from the pan and set aside on some kitchen paper to drain the fat. Remove some of the rendered fat from the pan.

  • When it is ready, remove the broccoli from the boiling water, but keep the water (you can use a slotted spoon). Bring it back to a boil. Add more water if necessary.

  • Cook the pasta al dente in the boiling water according to the instructions on the package. When ready, drain after saving some of the cooking water.

  • Cut the cooked broccoli into small florets. Heat the olive oil in the frying pan you used for the pancetta. Add garlic and broccoli florets and sauté for 5-10 minutes.

  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to the broccoli and simmer until soft enough to partially mash with a fork. Add more pasta cooking water if necessary. Add salt and pepper to taste

  • When the broccoli is ready, add the pancetta and mix well. Then add the cooked pasta and ⅔ of the grated cheese. Simmer for a few minutes until the cheese starts to melt.

  • Serve immediately with more grated cheese, or cool and refrigerate until serving.

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Notes

I used penne rigate for this dish, but other short pastas work well too. You can use rigatoni, fusilli, tortiglioni and even long pasta such as spaghetti or bucatini.
For a vegetarian version, omit the pancetta and sprinkle with crushed walnuts.
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
For a dairy-free version, omit the cheese or use a vegan cheese.
If you have leftovers, you can bake them in the oven with more grated cheese and some fresh mozzarella! You can also enjoy this broccoli pasta as a pasta salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 774kcalCarbohydrates: 86gProtein: 31gFat: 34gSaturated fat: 12gPolyunsaturated fat: 5gMonounsaturated fat: 16gTrans fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 726mgPotassium: 825mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1132IUVitamin C: 136mgCalcium: 349mgIron: 3mg

Keyword broccoli pasta, pancetta pasta, pasta with broccoli

Other pasta with broccoli recipes to try.

  1. Sicilian broccoli pasta with sausage.
  2. Ditaloni with purple cauliflower.
  3. Pasta with Romanesco broccoli.
  4. Orechiette with broccoli rabe.

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