Pasta with Broccoli-Pine Nut Pesto Recipe

Pasta with Broccoli-Pine Nut Pesto Recipe

  • 8 cups broccoli florets (from about 1 3/4 pounds of broccoli)
  • 1 pound orecchiette or farfalle (bow-tie) pasta
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  1. Cook broccoli florets in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer broccoli to colander and drain. Add pasta to same pot of water and cook until tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta; reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to same pot.
  2. With processor running, drop pine nuts and garlic through feed tube and chop finely. Scrape down sides of work bowl. Add broccoli, 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid, oil, vinegar and crushed red pepper, process to coarse puree. Pour sauce over pasta; toss over medium-low heat until heated through, adding remaining cooking liquid as needed if sauce is too thick. Season with salt and pepper. Serve, passing cheese separately.