Orecchiette Broccoli Recipes

SPICY ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot.
• While pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add broccoli and 1/2 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until broccoli begins to soften, about 8 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until water has evaporated and broccoli is crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• To pasta in pot, add broccoli mixture, Parmesan (reserving some for later), and enough pasta water to create a thin sauce that coats pasta. Serve sprinkled with remaining Parmesan.

BROCCOLI & ANCHOVY ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Using a small knife, trim round the broccoli to remove the dark green florets from the main stalks and put them to one side. Peel the stalks, trim off the dry end and throw this away. Peel and chop the garlic.
• Finely chop the broccoli stalk and put into a large pan with the garlic, anchovies and half the butter. Crumble in the chilli, cover with a lid and cook slowly for 8 to 10 minutes while you cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Something I like to do which is slightly different (but better, I'd like to think) is to cook the broccoli florets with the pasta for the last 4 minutes - this makes them soft enough to eat but leaves them with great colour and texture.
• Drain the pasta and broccoli, saving a little of the cooking water, then toss into the other pan. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper, the rest of the butter and finely grate in a large handful of Parmesan. Mix well, adding a little of the cooking water, to loosen, if needed, and make it shine.
• Serve immediately, sprinkling with another good handful of finely grated Parmesan.

BROCCOLI WITH ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• With food processor running, drop in garlic and finely chop.
• Cook garlic in oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 1 minute. Add broccoli, water, red-pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is very tender and almost all of liquid has evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in cheese until melted.
• Meanwhile, cook orecchiette in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoon salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta.
• Toss pasta with broccoli and 1/2 cup reserved cooking water. Season with salt and thin sauce with more cooking water if desired. Serve with cheese for sprinkling.

ORECCHIETTE, BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Cut the broccoli into small flowerets and the pancetta into matchsticks. Peel and finely slice the garlic and crumble the chiles. Grate the Parmesan.
• Cook the broccoli in boiling salted water until soft.
• In a thick-bottomed pan, heat the olive oil, add the pancetta and garlic, and cook until soft but not crisp. Add the broccoli and chiles and season. Stir over gentle heat for a few minutes.
• Cook the orecchiette in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain, and add to the broccoli. Mix well, and serve with Parmesan.

BROCCOLI RABE AND ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Place a pot of water on the stove to bring to a boil for pasta. Cover pot to bring water to a boil. Salt the water to season it and add half a pound of "little ears" pasta. Cook to al dente, about 7 minutes.
• Trim ends off broccoli rabe, coarsely chop it and add it to a deep skillet. Add 2 or 3 cups of water to the pan. Cover the pan and bring the broccoli rabe to a boil. When the rabe wilts down into the pan, salt it. Simmer the rabe for about 7 minutes until tender and no longer bitter. The color should remain deep green. Drain the rabe and reserve. Return the deep skillet to the stove and place it over medium heat. Add 5 turns of the pan of extra-virgin olive oil, chopped garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and saute 2 to3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add broccoli rabe and turn to coat them in garlic oil. Drain pasta reserving 3/4 cup of pasta water. Add the pasta and water to the pan. Toss pasta and broccoli rabe with lots of grated cheese, salt and pepper, to your taste. Serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI AND PECORINO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Spread out the broccoli florets on a rimmed baking sheet and toss them with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and the salt. Transfer to the preheated oven and roast for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Meanwhile, add the orecchiette to the boiling water and cook until al dente, 9 to 10 minutes. Drain well, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water for the sauce.
• While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, the anchovy paste and the garlic to the hot pan. Cook, mashing up the anchovy paste with a wooden spoon, until the anchovy has dissolved into the oil and the garlic has become softened and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Add the pasta, the roasted broccoli, and the parsley, red pepper flakes, pecorino, lemon zest, raisins and pine nuts to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.

EASY ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; salt generously. Add broccoli rabe. Cook until leaves are wilted, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer broccoli rabe to colander; drain well.
• Return water to a boil, and add pasta; cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until soft, 30 seconds, being careful not to brown. Add anchovy fillets, if using, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in broccoli rabe; cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add pasta to broccoli rabe mixture; toss to combine, adding reserved cooking water as desired. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Serve with Parmesan and lemon wedges.

ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI IN GARLIC OIL

Steps:

• In 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli during last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain and return to Dutch oven.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix oil, garlic, salt and pepper flakes. Cook over medium-low heat 6 minutes, stirring often, until garlic is golden. Add garlic oil and parsley to pasta and broccoli; toss until well coated.