Penne A La Broccoli

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 16 ounces penne or 16 ounces other hearty pasta, uncooked
• 1 large bunch broccoli
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves (chopped or mashed)
• 1/2 cup water
• salt
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cook the pasta in rapidly boiling water until al dente.
• 2 trim the ends of the broccoli stems and cut off the flowers. peel the outer fibrous layer off the main stalks and cut the stalks into bite-sized pieces.
• 3 separate the flower of the broccoli into bite-sized pieces.
• 4 place the broccoli in a colander and rinse under cold running water. put it in a saucepan with the olive oil, garlic, water and salt. bring to a boil, cover tightly, and let steam until the broccoli is bright green and very crunchy-tender - no more than 5 minutes. remove the lid and boil off most of the remaining liquid.
• 5 toss the broccoli with cooked pasta. top with red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese, if desired.