Pasta and Broccoli was a staple at our dinner table when I was growing up. Sometimes it was the main dish and sometimes it was a side dish. Pasta with Broccoli is a classic combination of a pasta and a vegetable from Southern Italy.
Everything tastes better when there is pasta and it’s all smothered in parmigiano reggiano.
Right?
When I got married I added the bacon to the Pasta with Broccoli dish and handsome loved it. He didn’t eat many vegetables while he was growing up, so in the beginning of our marriage I tried to incorporate as many vegetables as possible for him to get use to them and acquire a taste for vegetables. He needed a gentle push {more like a shove} in the healthy direction.
Now he loves vegetables. Pasta with Broccoli and Bacon is one of his favorite dishes.
- 1 Pound Pasta, shells
- 1 Pound Organic Broccoli, cut into bite size pieces - May be fresh or frozen
- 2 Cloves Garlic, sliced thinly
- 4 Slices Bacon, chopped into small pieces
- ½ Cup Reserved Pasta water
- 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- Salt, for pasta water & to taste
- In a large pot cook pasta for 2 minutes less than package directions, reserved a ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sliced garlic. Cook until slightly golden brown. Remove cooked garlic from pan. Set aside.
- Add bacon to the large skillet and cook until slightly crispy. Remove bacon from pan. Set aside.
- Add broccoli to skillet with the bacon renderings and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally so the broccoli does not burn and broccoli it cooked through.
- Add the black pepper and salt to taste.
- Once broccoli is done, add back to skillet the garlic, bacon and add in the pasta along with the pasta water and remaining olive oil. Stir to combine.
- Add in the parmigiano reggiano reserving some to sprinkle on the top.
Sautéing garlic in olive oil.
Add bacon and garlic back into skillet with the broccoli.
Pasta with Broccoli
Enjoy!