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Orecchiette pasta with Romanesco broccoli recipe in a bowl.
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5 from 54 votes

Pasta with Romanesco Broccoli Recipe

This tasty and nutritious pasta with Romanesco broccoli is based on a traditional recipe from Puglia, Southern Italy. It's easy to make and, of course, you can use other types of broccoli.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Puglia, Southern Italian
Keyword: Pasta with Romanesco broccoli, Romanesco broccoli recipe
Servings: 4
Calories: 617kcal
Author: Jacqui

Ingredients

  • 14 oz orecchiette
  • 1 large Romanesco broccoli or 2 small
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and chopped
  • 4 anchovy fillets in olive oil. Drained and cut into small pieces
  • ½ fresh red chili (peperoncino) or teaspoon dried flakes
  • 5 oz burrata or fresh mozzarella
  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • salt for pasta and to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the Romanesco florets for about 10 minutes until firm but tender. Drain, rinse under cold water to preserve the color, and set aside.
  • While the broccoli is cooking, heat extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan or iron skillet. Add chopped garlic, anchovies, and fresh chili pepper. Sauté until the garlic softens and the anchovies melt.
  • Add the cooked Romanesco broccoli to the pan. Cook over low heat until the florets start to break apart slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil, add salt, bring to a boil again, and then add the orecchiette. Cook al dente as per the package instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  • Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the Romanesco broccoli, mixing well. Add a bit of the reserved pasta cooking water if the mixture seems dry, and stir over high heat for a minute.
  • Stir in the burrata pieces, combining gently. The warmth of the pasta will slightly melt the cheese.
  • Serve the pasta hot with an optional dash of extra virgin olive oil.

Notes

If you can't find burrata you can use mozzarella instead.
Normal broccoli works very well in this recipe too. In fact, in Puglia, that's what they use. 

Nutrition

Calories: 617kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 725mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1212IU | Vitamin C: 136mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 3mg