Lemon Broccoli and White Bean Pasta

This lemon broccoli pasta gets its body from white beans rather than a heavy sauce. Cook the broccoli with the pasta, then warm the beans with garlic, lemon, and a little pasta water. The starch helps everything cling to the noodles. It serves four and takes about 25 minutes.

Serves: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 ounces short pasta, such as penne or fusilli
• 1 large head broccoli, cut into small florets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

Method

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions.
2. Add the broccoli to the pot for the final 3 minutes of pasta cooking. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
3. While the pasta cooks, warm the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.
4. Add the beans, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Stir gently and warm for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Tip the drained pasta and broccoli into the skillet. Add the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of pasta water. Toss until glossy, adding more water if the pan looks dry.
6. Fold in Parmesan and red pepper flakes if using. Taste, adjust the lemon or salt, and serve.

Variations

Use frozen broccoli and add it directly to the pasta water near the end of cooking. Replace cannellini beans with butter beans, or finish with chopped parsley instead of Parmesan. A little extra olive oil makes a simple dairy-free finish.

Storage and reheating

Refrigerate extra portions in a covered container. Add a splash of water before reheating to loosen the sauce. Pair this dish with the pantry-first meal planning guide and grocery list for pantry basics to keep flexible staples in rotation. Add the pasta to the Lucru Home meal planner for a night when the pantry can do most of the work.