Pesto Pasta with Broccoli & Lemon Ricotta

Pesto Pasta

with Broccoli & Lemon Ricotta

25 MIN
2 Servings
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    From the Test Kitchen

    This easy pasta gets its verdant color two ways: we’re stirring in tender broccoli (sautéed with red pepper flakes for a lightly spicy kick), then bringing it all together with our herbaceous basil pesto. A spoonful of creamy ricotta—mixed with a bit of Grana Padano and lemon juice for bright, rich flavor—is perfect for stirring into every bite.
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    Dietary Information

    Vegetarian
    • Nutrition
      PER SERVING
    • Calories
      760 Cals (est.)
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    fresh
    ingredients
    Pesto Pasta with Broccoli & Lemon Ricotta
    Title
    • 6 oz Elicoidali Pasta
    • ½ lb Broccoli
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 1 Lemon
    • ⅓ cup Basil Pesto
    • ½ cup Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
    • ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
    • 1 oz Sliced Roasted Red Peppers
    • 2 Tbsps Mascarpone Cheese
    • 0.7 oz Grana Padano Cheese
    time-saving
    tips & techniques
    Prepare the ingredients
    1 Prepare the ingredients

    Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the bottom 1/2 inch of the broccoli stem; roughly chop the broccoli. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Grate the Grana Padano on the small side of a box grater. Roughly chop the peppers

    Cook the broccoli
    2 Cook the broccoli

    In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chopped broccoli, chopped garlic, and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the broccoli is softened and the water has cooked off. Turn off the heat.

    Cook the pasta
    3 Cook the pasta

    Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly.

    Make the lemon ricotta
    4 Make the lemon ricotta

    In a bowl, combine the ricotta, half the grated Grana Padano, and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Season with salt and pepper. 

    Finish the pasta & serve your dish
    5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish

    To the pan of cooked broccoli, add the cooked pasta, mascarpone, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated. Turn off the heat. Stir in the pesto and chopped peppers until thoroughly coated and combined (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta topped with the lemon ricotta and remaining grated Grana Padano. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy! 

    Tips from Home Chefs

    Prepare the ingredients
    1 Prepare the ingredients

    Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the bottom 1/2 inch of the broccoli stem; roughly chop the broccoli. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Grate the Grana Padano on the small side of a box grater. Roughly chop the peppers

    2 Cook the broccoli

    In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chopped broccoli, chopped garlic, and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the broccoli is softened and the water has cooked off. Turn off the heat.

    Cook the broccoli
    Cook the pasta
    3 Cook the pasta

    Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly.

    4 Make the lemon ricotta

    In a bowl, combine the ricotta, half the grated Grana Padano, and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Season with salt and pepper. 

    Make the lemon ricotta
    Finish the pasta & serve your dish
    5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish

    To the pan of cooked broccoli, add the cooked pasta, mascarpone, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated. Turn off the heat. Stir in the pesto and chopped peppers until thoroughly coated and combined (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta topped with the lemon ricotta and remaining grated Grana Padano. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy! 

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