One-Pan Creamy Broccoli Pasta

TIPS & TRICKS to make this Recipe: What makes this creamy pasta dish healthier than other creamy pastas, is that I used Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream. The secret? Make sure to add in the yogurt at room temperature. Otherwise, it will easily curdle. I used penne pasta, but you can use other pasta noodles. However, if they are thinner, you might need to add in less liquid and cut the cooking time. The penne pasta I used took 12-13 minutes to cook al dente, as stated on the package instructions of the pasta. So all the timings in the recipe below are made for penne pasta.

One-Pan Creamy Broccoli Pasta

Watch Albert preparing this recipe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R36H7ukWwlg&t=7s

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 60 ml
  • 3 cups broccoli florets 525 grams
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth 595 ml
  • 2 cups penne pasta 200 grams
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt 125 grams
  • 1/4 cup finely grated manchego cheese 20 grams
  • handful fresh parsley
  • pinch sea salt
  • dash black pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, after 2 minutes add in 3 cups broccoli florets, mix with the olive oil and then place all the florets in a single layer, cook for 2 minutes per side without mixing, then remove the broccoli from the pan, set aside and season with sea salt & black pepper
  2. Using the same pan with the same heat, add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive olive, along with 1/2 onion finely diced, 1 red bell pepper roughly chopped and 5 cloves garlic roughly chopped , mix with the olive oil, after 4 minutes and the vegetables are lightly sauteed, season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, then add in 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth and turn up the heat to a high heat
  3. Once the broth comes to a boil, add in 2 cups penne paste and mix together, mix the the pasta every 2 to 3 minutes
  4. After 9 minutes and most of the broth has been absorbed by the pasta, but there is still some broth left, add the broccoli back into the pan, place a lid on the pan and lower the heat to a low-medium heat
  5. After 3 to 4 minutes, turn off the heat and remove the lid, let the pasta cool off for a couple minutes, then add in 1/2 cup Greek yogurt at room temperature into the pasta, season with black pepper and mix together until well mixed
  6. Finely grate some Manchego cheese over the pasta and sprinkle with finely chopped parsley, enjoy!

Oleocanthal Can Help Protect Against Alzheimer’s

Extra virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal as one of its main polyphenols – the one that can cause a burning sensation in the back of the throat. Researchers from the University of Monroe-Louisiana conducted a study that found oleocanthal had a modulating effect on an important part of the immune system, called C3AR1. Unfortunately, if C3AR1 becomes overactive, it causes inflammation in the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s. Oleocanthal helps reduce this over activity and maintain the normal activity of C3AR1. This is just another reason to consume real extra virgin olive oil.