Spicy Orecchiette with Broccoli

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Prep Time:
Prep: 30 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

  • 4

Ingredients

  • * Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 12 * 12 ounces orecchiette or other short pasta
  • 2 * 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 * 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 to 1/2 * 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
  • 1 * 1 head broccoli (about 1 pound), cut into bite-size florets, stalks peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 * 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot.
2. While pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add broccoli and 1/2 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until broccoli begins to soften, about 8 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until water has evaporated and broccoli is crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes more.
3. To pasta in pot, add broccoli mixture, Parmesan (reserving some for later), and enough pasta water to create a thin sauce that coats pasta. Serve sprinkled with remaining Parmesan.