Broccoli Pesto Pasta Recipe (Broccoli Pasta Recipe)

For Cooking Pasta

• 150 grams Dry Spaghetti
• 2 litre Water
• 2 tsp Salt

For Broccoli pesto sauce

• 2 cups Broccoli (cut into florets)
• 3 tbsp Pine nuts
• 1½ cup Basil Leaves
• 2 cloves Garlic (peeled)
• ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
• 1 tsp Red Chilli Flakes
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. 1

   Boil Water - Take water in a sauce pan, Bring lots of water to a boil. Season the water with salt.

2. 2

   Blanching Broccoli - Now add in broccoli into the hot water. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the broccoli is tender and bright green colour. Strain using a slotted spoon and add it to a blender jar.

3. 3

   Blanching Basil - Now in the same water, add in basil leaves. Blanch the basil for just 10 seconds. Strain it and add it into the blender jar with broccoli.

4. 4

   Cooking Pasta - Now in the same water, add pasta to cook. Cook pasta as per package directions. Just before straining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking liquid. We will use it later.

5. 5

   Toasting nuts - dry toast pine nuts in a pan until lightly toasted and golden. Remove and set aside to cool.

6. 6

   Broccoli Pesto Sauce - Now make the pesto sauce. To the broccoli, basil leaves, add in garlic, parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, lemon juice, red chilli flakes, salt. Grind them till it is coarsely ground. Now add in 1/4 of the pasta cooking liquid, olive oil and make it into a smooth sauce. Taste and adjust salt, lemon to your taste.

7. 7

   Tossing Pasta - Strain the pasta and take it in a bowl. Add in as much pesto sauce as needed. Pour little pasta cooking water and toss well. Let the pesto sauce coat each strands of pasta. Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil, extra parmesan cheese and red chilli flakes.