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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Pipette con Broccoli

Traditionally, this dish is made with Orecchiette.  But.  I didn't have any...and I did have Pipette, so I went with it.  Pasta with broccoli is very common in its many variations not only in our house, but across the globe. Broccoli is a veggie that all of the kids and adults in the house enjoy without question...so that makes this a go-to dish for us.  I don't always use the anchovies.  Because, though the kids (um...and the hubs...don't tell) eat them when they don't know they're there, if they see me putting them in?  Well, they suddenly "taste them".  Obviously it's all in their heads, but what can I say?

I love it simple like this, but my daughter loves a light alfredo sauce thrown in. And the boys love it with red sauce.  So even though it's pasta with broccoli in its base form...it can make many different meals in its variations.

That's it for today.  Simple.  Green.  Pasta.  Heading out the door to Lowe's - because I'm feeling crafty.  I want to create something!  Must find wood.  And wood glue.  And paint...
Pipette con Broccoli

by Heather Schmitt-González
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Keywords: boil entree pasta broccoli Italian
Ingredients (serves 6)
  • ~2½ lb. broccoli
  • 6 Tbs. olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled & crushed
  • 1 tsp. crushed red chiles
  • 10 anchovy fillets in olive oil
  • 1 lb. Pipette (or other small pasta)
  • freshly grated Parmesan
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Trim broccoli into bite-sized florets. Cook in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water until just tender, ~5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or skimmer, transfer to a colander set in a bowl of ice water to shock the broccoli (stop cooking and hold bright green color). Remove from water once cooled and allow to drain.

Return broccoli cooking water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente.
While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add garlic, chile, and anchovies and cook until anchovies are melted into the oil and the garlic smells fragrant. Mash the anchovies with a wooden spoon and then add the broccoli florets and cook for a few minutes more. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.

Drain pasta, reserving about a cup of the cooking liquid. Add pasta and reserved water to sauté pan and toss to coat.

Grate Parmesan over the top and sprinkle a few extra crushed red chiles on top, if you wish. Serve.
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*recipe inspired by/adapted from Twelve by Tessa Kiros


I am sharing this post with:
IHCC theme: Go Green!
Presto Pasta Nights hosted at Cook. Craft. Enjoy. this week
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Would you like to comment?

  1. Crafty huh? :) Looking forward to seeing what you've created! I don't make pasta with broccoli much...why? I wish I knew :) we always have it handy and I must add the anchovies like you do. I have sneaked in many things, that if they only knew...hehehe! That didn't sound too evil of a laugh did it?

     Have a great day!

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  2. Love this simple recipe; I have a feeling anchovies must really give it tons of flavour. We love broccoli, so this one is a keeper.
    Rita

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  3. Ohh this looks so yummy!  Broccoli is a favorite veggie at our house too, although it is a tough sell in pasta dishes...not sure why. 

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  4. This is quite simply a perfect meal - grand for all seasons.

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  5. Oh, I just love it! Beautiful and delicious meal!  I am sure broccoli will go well with my homemade pasta (come see it!). 

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  6. A big bowl of this makes me one very happy girl!  Add a little of that Alfredo sauce and I'm in Heaven. :) 

    Feeling crafty?  Hmmmm....  I can't wait to see what you're up to! :)  

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  7. I just had a version of this last night- it is such a comforting dish for me!

    Love the addition of the red chilies- will most definitely be giving that a try next time around :)

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  8. This is such a wonderful recipe..Thanks for posting it..Bookmarked..

    Aarthi
    http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/
     

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  9. Okay, so I looked high and low through Tessa's books for pasta con broccoli and couldn't find a single recipe!  I was craving it anyway so I went ahead and made it (without taking pictures mind you).  Sigh!  Oh well, it was still delicious.  Yours looks fab with the red chiles.  Guess I'll have to hit the books for something else.

    Have fun getting crafty!!

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  10. with a light alfredo sauce..I'm with your daughter-yummy!!  crafty---can't wait to see what you make..

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  11. I have exactly the same problem with anchovies.   I love them but if my husband sees me using them it puts him off the whole dish!   I think they'd be great in here.

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  12. Una Semplice PassioneMarch 13, 2012 at 12:15 PM

    Love this recipe, make it often like this. Your pictures are beautiful!
    I also created many variations over the years but my favorite will always be the "basic' version. 

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  13. Oh man, thanks for reminding me - I forgot to put the Tessa book. DUH!  It's from Twelve (Orecchiette con Broccoli)!

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  14. Oh, you are an evil seductress. I want that pasta like nobody's business.

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  15. Hahahah I have a psychological aversion to anchovies too...if you mask them well for me, I'll eat it otherwise I'll sniff it out. Love how simple this recipe is and it's amazing to see how many kids actually like broccoli even though it's 'green' :)

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  16. i just made a dish similar to this, it called for anchovies too.  i was surprised at the flavor it added without tasting "fishy."  i had to keep my family ignorant to it too :)

    have fun crafting, you should post what you did!

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  17. what's not to love about a beautiful broccoli dish?

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  18. That looks like a delicious bowl of pasta..

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  19. Pipette are fine, and spaghetti too! I also like to use orecchiette but here in NZ I cannot find them in every shop like in Italy, sometimes I have to make do with the pasta types that are available.

    Ciao
    Alessandra

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  20. Pipette are fine, 

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  21. My son loves pasta with broccoli...This is a delicious version!

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  22. This is a great recipe to keep in my back pocket--easy and adaptable!

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  23. YUMMERS!! I love broccoli pastas. This looks delish :)

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  24.  my kids hates green veggies coz they said its bitter hihi,, but i really want to try this one for my husband i think he will love this .

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  25.  This is a best recipe I have ever read about broccoli.Thanks for providing it on post.So that it has become in reach of people like me.

    Port Melbourne
    Restaurants

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  26. Looks delicious Heather.

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  27. This looks delicious! We love broccoli in our house so this would be a hit with my kids! 

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  28. Broccoli is the one veggie my whole family can agree on also...so crazy. I'm loving the sound of this! And I won't tell about the anchovies if you won't...they really do add that extra special something.

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  29. This is one of our favorite go to dishes when we're in a real bind for time. Joshua roasts the Broccoli and onions in the oven and we use kamut pasta. Soooo yummy.

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  30. Gotta sneak in those anchovies! ;-) This looks simple and delicious--easy pasta comfort. 

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  31. Lovely! Simple and delicious family fare. Perfect!
    And I hope to see your wood creation soon! 

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  32. After reading the recipe and seeing the list of ingredients I am ready to make this tomorrow. It is so easy and looks so yummy.

    Thanks Heather.

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