Broccoli Pesto Pasta with Ricotta
Dreaming of a light broccoli pasta dish? Broccoli Pesto Pasta with Ricotta is perfect for those warmer spring days when you are looking for something fresh. This pesto pasta is delightful!
Ingredients
- 1 head Broccoli roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Fresh Basil roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- pinch Kosher Salt
- pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 3/4 pound Linguini Pasta
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1 Shallot minced
- 1 Lemon zest and juice
- Black Pepper
- 1 cup Ricotta Cheese (optional)
Instructions
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In a food processor, blend together the broccoli, basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and a pinch of salt & crushed red pepper. Pulse to your desired consistency. Set aside.
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Meanwhile, add salt to boiling water and cook your linguini pasta to an al dente texture. Reserve about a 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
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In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium to high heat. Add the shallots and lemon zest and cook for about 3 minutes or until the shallots are cooked through.
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Add the pasta into the skillet. Follow that up with the broccoli pesto, lemon juice and a pinch of black pepper. Mix together. You may need to add the pasta water if the pasta is too dry.
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If desired, spread a scoop of ricotta cheese on your plate. Top with the finished broccoli pesto pasta. Add additional parmesan cheese on top and serve.
Recipe Notes
- If you like your pesto a little bit chunkier, pulse the food processor for a shorter amount of time. If you like it smoother, pulse longer. You can even add a little more olive oil depending on the consistency.
- Always prepare your pasta al dente (meaning a little undercooked). Your pasta will finish cooking in the skillet with the lemon sauce.
- You can add a little chicken or shrimp to this dish for a complete pasta dish.
- If you don't have ricotta cheese, you can leave it out. It's still a wonderful dish without. You can also whip up the ricotta and make it creamier by putting into the food processor for a few seconds.
- Serve with a side salad or some garlic bread.