Description
Creamy cheese pasta with broccoli delivers Italian comfort straight to your kitchen. Silky noodles blend perfectly with sharp cheese and crisp green florets, promising a quick, satisfying meal that brings warmth and flavor to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ½ pound (8 ounces) malfadine pasta
- 4 cups shaved broccoli (about 1 head)
- 2 packages (5.2 ounces each) Boursin garlic & herb cheese
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Seasonings:
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until it reaches a tender yet firm al dente texture, approximately 8-10 minutes. Carefully set aside of the starchy cooking liquid for later use.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then gently sauté finely chopped onions with a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes until the onions become translucent and slightly softened, releasing their sweet aroma.
- Add thinly shaved or finely chopped broccoli florets to the skillet and sauté for 2 minutes, ensuring the vegetables remain vibrant green and retain a slight crunch. Introduce cold butter to create a silky base for the sauce.
- Crumble the creamy Boursin cheese into the skillet and gradually incorporate approximately of reserved pasta water, stirring continuously until the sauce becomes smooth and velvety. Adjust the consistency by adding more pasta water if needed.
- Gently fold the cooked pasta into the luxurious sauce, allowing it to simmer for 1-2 minutes and absorb the rich flavors. Finish the dish with a bright splash of fresh lemon juice and an extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a zesty kick.
Notes
- Cooking tip: Always salt your pasta water generously to enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
- Cheese trick: Let Boursin cheese sit at room temperature for easier blending into the sauce.
- Broccoli hack: Shave broccoli thinly for quicker cooking and better sauce integration.
- Liquid magic: Pasta water is the secret weapon for creating a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand.
- Flavor boost: A final sprinkle of red pepper flakes adds a zesty kick that elevates the entire meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg