A simple, healthy pasta dish made with blended broccoli, garlic, olive oil, and lemon—creamy, satisfying, and ready in under 30 minutes.
12 oz pasta (regular or gluten-free)
4 cups broccoli, chopped (florets and stems)
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
½ cup reserved pasta water
2 tbsp lemon juice
¼ cup grated Parmesan or 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
Salt and pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Extra Parmesan or olive oil for garnish
Boil pasta and broccoli together in salted water for 8–10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain.
Sauté garlic in 1 tbsp olive oil until fragrant.
Blend half the broccoli with ½ cup pasta water, 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, Parmesan (or nutritional yeast), salt, and pepper until creamy.
Combine pasta, remaining broccoli, and sauce. Toss over low heat until warmed through.
Garnish and serve warm.
Add chickpeas or tofu for protein.
For a vegan version, use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
Use gluten-free pasta for GF version.