Pasta Con Broccoli Recipe

Pasta con broccoli is a staple in most pizzeria’s in the Saint Louis Area.  With its rich creamy sauce combined with fresh cooked broccoli,  this dish is so delicious!  Whether you serve this as a side or a main dish, it’s perfect for any night! Not to mention, it’s so kid friendly!  Check out the awesome recipe below:

What You Need:

• Salted Butter, 1 stick
• Minced Garlic, 3-4 Cloves
• Parmesan Cheese (I prefer Grana Padano, which is a bold a nutty variety), 3/4 cup
• Cream Cheese, 8 oz
• Milk, 1 cup
• Head of Broccoli, cut into spoonful size pieces
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of white pepper
• salt & pepper to taste
• Noodles (Shell or small cuts with lines), 1lb
• Mushrooms (Optional) 1/4 cook, diced & saute)

Directions

Sauce:

Melt butter in age sauce pan.  Add in garlic and saute on medium heat for 2 minutes.  Next, add in the cream cheese.   find it much easier if it is cut into smaller pieces.  This is so it melts quicker.  Using a whisk, whisk the ingredients as the cream cheese melts.  Add in half a cup of milk, nutmeg, white pepper, salt and pepper.  Gently whisk together as sauce begins to form.  Add in Parmesan cheese and remaining milk.  Reduce to low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sauce from burning to bottom of pan.

Noodles/Broccoli:

Bring a pot of water (around 6 cups) to a rolling boil.  Add in salt, enough to make it taste like sea water (about 1/2-1 tablespoon). Add in noodles and boil for about 4 minutes.  Next, add in broccoli and cook until noodles are al dente (about 3-4 more minutes).  Drain.

Combine drained noodles and broccoli into put with sauce.  Toss to cover completely with sauce.  Let simmer on low for 3-5 minutes.  Serve hot and Enjoy!