Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta

09.9.14
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Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta
Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta
Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta
Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta

I am a notorious 'buy vegetables and forget about them in the refrigerator drawer' kind of person. If I don't go into the grocery store/farmers' market with a shopping list, it ends poorly with me overspending, especially with produce. I end up with a short attention span: "Look at those colors!" "Oh, the flavor must be amazing!" "1 pound for $2!" At the end I have a ton of beautiful produce and then realize, I have a lot of cooking to do for the week.

For whatever reason, broccoli and cauliflower are two items I constantly forget about. This broccoli pesto is such a cheat and while it's definitely not the full-force flavor you might be used to with basil pesto, the flavor is subtle from the roasted broccoli and it pairs perfectly with pasta. I also cut back on the amount of oil/lemon juice traditionally used by pour a bit of pasta water into the sauce but feel free to play around with the balance of oil/lemon juice.

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Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta

  • Author: Erin Alderson
  • Yield: 3-4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 1/3 cup sliced white onion
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup shredded asiago cheese
  • 4-6 ounces pasta
  • Sliced almonds, for topping
  • Shredded asiago cheese, for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425˚. Cut broccoli into roughly equal-sized florets, keeping as much of the stem as possible. Toss with sliced onion, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast until broccoli is just starting to char, 15-18 minutes.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil with a pinch of a salt. Add pasta and cook until tender but not mushy. Drain, reserving at least 1 cup of water.
  3. Place cooked broccoli in blender or food processor with remaining olive oil, lemon juice, almonds, and cheese. Puree, add 2-3 tablespoons pasta water at a time, until a thick sauce forms (will look more like a dip than a sauce). Taste and add more salt/pepper as desired. Combine with hot pasta.
  4. Serve with a sprinkle of slice almonds and extra cheese.

 

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24 comments on “Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta”

  1. You are not alone in the overspending on veggies just to forget about them. This pesto is an awesome use of an ingredient I often overbuy. Thanks for sharing. So inventive!!

  2. I had to chuckle when I read this post as I do the exact same thing. I MUST have a grocery list or I get carried away, over buy, over spend, and feel guilty at the end of the week when I see sad, wilted veggies pushed to the back of the fridge. This recipe is a great way to revive the forgotten broccoli. Sounds delicious!

  3. We eat a lot of broccoli with pasta. You could try tucking some of the cauliflower into the pesto if you have both at the same time, which is what I did for dinner last night. . I often tuck in a bit of chilli as well, as it goes beautifully with broccoli. Great recipe, thanks for another way to use up the broccoli.

  4. This would be a great make-over meal too. Tonight's roasted broccoli is tomorrow's pesto!

  5. Ha - I'm the same way with my produce and I'm usually in denial about it so it ends up sitting in the crisper drawer for about 2 months too long because I'm embarrassed that I forgot / wasted it. Glad to see you've found a recipe for your forgotten veggies!

  6. Hi There

    Thanks for this recipe. I normally don't like broccoli-type food.

    But this def give me a reason to do something interesting with it for a change.

    Btw I am new to your blog and will def return for more.

    Cheers

    Dave

  7. I'm not a big fan of broccoli but keep trying because it's so healthy. This was delicious though, and perfect for a rainy evening. I used whole almonds that I roasted and just chopped a few for garnish.

  8. I just cooked did and it turned out amazing. Super easy and tasty!!!!!!! Adding this to my go-to recipes when trying to make something delicious and easy!

hi. 

Welcome to my little internet nook. On this site you'll find over a thousand vegetarian recipes, pantry knowledge, and more. I'm ever obsessed with food from gardening, cooking, and preserving. I hope you'll find endless inspiration on these pages and visit often. 

Virtual hugs, Erin (aka: e.l.l.a.)
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