The beauty of this recipe is that whatever pasta you have on hand, you can use it, and I just have the ingredients on hand for that one meal. But that dish can be used with other shaped pasta, just to be sure. As I have said, when I’m tired and hungry, this is my favorite substitute for “actual” dinner. Typically, all of these ingredients are on hand, and it takes just minutes to put together. Often, I’ll boil extra pasta, freeze the leftovers in single-serving freezer bags, then just throw the frozen pasta and broccoli in a bowl and microwave for a minute or two until it’s soft. It’s even faster then than now! These few ingredients make an unbelievably tasty, filling, and easy meal on the fly.
It is a fast and simple bow tie pasta dish with some fresh broccoli tossed with some good olive oil infused with garlic, lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice topped with toasted slices of almond and freshly rubbed Parmesan cheese. This simple “cheat” dinner is ready in minutes and will keep you full for hours. My go-to lazy weekend dinner is Bowties and Broccoli.
Ingredients:
12 oz pasta
1 lb frozen broccoli florets
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan
Salt to taste
Freshly cracked pepper to taste
Pinch crushed red pepper (optional).
Directions:
Add water and bring it to a boil and then add the pasta. Boil until al dente (7-10 minutes) past the pasta. Add and put the frozen broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water, turn off the heat and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes or until the broccoli is tender-crisp.
Drain the broccoli and pasta into a colander.
Move the pasta and broccoli to the pot (with the heat off) or a cup, then add the butter. Toss until the butter has both melted and powdered. Add the parmesan, salt, freshly cracked pepper and flakes of red pepper, then toss again to coat. Seasoning to taste and change as needed. Serve
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb frozen broccoli florets
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan
- Salt to taste
- Freshly cracked pepper to taste
- Pinch crushed red pepper (optional).
Instructions
Add water and bring it to a boil and then add the pasta. Boil until al dente (7-10 minutes) past the pasta. Add and put the frozen broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water, turn off the heat and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes or until the broccoli is tender-crisp.
Drain the broccoli and pasta into a colander.
Move the pasta and broccoli to the pot (with the heat off) or a cup, then add the butter. Toss until the butter has both melted and powdered. Add the parmesan, salt, freshly cracked pepper and flakes of red pepper, then toss again to coat. Seasoning to taste and change as needed. Serve
