Broccoli Bean Pasta Recipes

BROCCOLI BEAN PASTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add pasta; cook for 7 minutes. Add broccoli; cook 4-5 minutes longer or until pasta and broccoli are tender. , Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute garlic in oil for 1 minute. Add the beans, wine and pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 7-8 minutes or until slightly reduced. , Drain pasta and broccoli; keep warm. Combine cornstarch, salt and milk until smooth; stir into bean mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Add pasta mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

PASTA AND WHITE BEANS WITH BROCCOLI PESTO

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook broccoli until tender and bright green, about 4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer broccoli to a food processor. Return water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 2 cups pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot.
• To food processor, add oil, Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, parsley, and garlic. Puree until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down side as needed. Transfer pesto to pot with pasta. Stir to coat, adding enough reserved pasta water to make a creamy sauce. Stir in beans and heat over medium until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.

WHITE BEAN PICCATA PASTA WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Three minutes before the pasta is done, add the broccoli (the broccoli should be crisp-tender when the pasta is al dente). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and broccoli.
• While the pasta cooks, make the sauce: In a large (12-inch) skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and a pinch of salt and stir until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the white wine and cook until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add 1/4 cup of the pasta water, the beans, capers and a pinch of salt, and simmer until saucy and slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the lemon juice, cooked pasta and broccoli, and stir until the pasta is coated in the sauce, adding pasta water as needed to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowls, top with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

SICILIAN PASTA AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Heat the water for your pasta while you prepare the broccoli.
• In a shallow, 10-inch saute pot, heat the 1 cup olive oil over medium-high heat (see Cook's Note). Add the broccoli to the oil and season it with salt. Saute the broccoli for about 4 minutes, or until it takes on a toasty color. The broccoli will absorb a lot of the oil, so if you find your pot getting dry, just add a little more oil to it. Throw in the garlic and cook for about another minute, until it's slightly brown. Don't burn the garlic! Take the broccoli off the heat and set it aside.
• Prepare the penne according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and toss it in the pot with the broccoli, garlic, and olive oil. If the mixture seems dry, add a little more oil.
• Toss in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, stir, and garnish with the parsley.

WHOLE-FAMILY PASTA WITH BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water 2 minutes less than directed on package. Drain.
• Meanwhile, cook garlic in oil in a large lidded pot over medium heat until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add broccoli and cauliflower and cook 1 minute. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook, covered, 3 minutes. Add broth, butter, beans, pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook until beans are warm and sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Add pasta and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with cheese.

PASTA WITH BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER AND BEANS

Steps:

• Cook pasta 2 minutes less according to package time.
• Strain and reserve.
• While the pasta is cooking, in a large pot, brown garlic in olive oil over medium heat until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add broccoli and cauliflower and cook 1 minute.
• Add a pinch of salt, stir, cover and cook for 3 minutes.
• Add stock, butter and white beans.
• Cook until the beans warm and the sauce slightly thickens, about 5 minutes.
• Add cooked pasta and heat through, about 1 minute.
• Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Plate into bowls and serve with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

THREE BEAN AND BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring 3 qts water to boil.
• While bringing water to a boil, set frozen broccoli pkg in microwave to defrost for approximately 6-7 minutes.
• Open, drain, and rinse canned 3 bean salad in colander.
• When water is boiling, add pasta> Boil pasta for 8-9 minutes to al dente.
• As noodles are cooking, prepare the broccoli> Cut stems away from broccoli flowerettes> Cut flowerettes into bite-sized pieces> Use the stem portion as well if you prefer.
• Place broccoli pieces and rinsed/drained bean salad in mixing bowl.
• Once noodles are cooked, remove and strain in colander while running cold water over noodles to stop cooking, and cool down the pasta> With a sharp knife or kitchen scissors cut up pasta slightly (if using long noodles).
• Once cooled and drained place pasta in mixing bowl with bean salad and broccoli.
• In measuring cup pour dressing (s) of choice to 1/2 cup measure> Blend if using multiple dressings>*I use a combination of Newmans Light Balsamic Vineagrette and Kraft Fat Free Caeser Italian.
• Pour dressing over salad and add fresh cracked pepper and salt to your liking>*i use about 1 1/2 tbs of salt to cut the sweetness of the bean salad.
• Mix gently and well> Nice if chilled, but if time does not allow, it can be eaten immediately.
• Some add-in ideas: diced cucumber, tomato, black olives, onion, chicken/ham, sunflower seeds.