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Lemony Broccoli Pasta | Taste & Tipple

Lemony Broccoli Pasta

This lemony broccoli pasta packs a punch with a whole lemon, creamy brown butter sauce, some greenery from roasted broccoli & lots of parmesan.

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Broccoli, Cheese, Lemon, Pasta, Pine Nuts
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Author Yvonne Langen

Ingredients

  • 1 large head of broccoli 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1 1/2-inch florets, stems peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 lb fettuccine
  • 8 tbsp 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces, divided
  • 1 small lemon very thinly sliced into rounds, seeds removed
  • 1 oz Parmesan finely grated, plus more for serving
  • ¼ cup pine nuts toasted

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°. On a large baking sheet, toss the broccoli florets and stems with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the broccoli in the oven for about 30 minutes, tossing halfway through, until browned and tender.
  2. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling generously salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions (pasta will finish cooking in the sauce).
  3. Meanwhile, heat half of the butter in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium until melted. Add lemon slices and cook, stirring often, until softened and bottom of pot is browned in spots, 5–7 minutes. Using tongs, transfer one-third of lemon slices to a plate; set aside.
  4. Just before pasta is al dente, scoop out 2 cups pasta cooking liquid. Add 1½ cups pasta cooking liquid to butter sauce. (This may seem like a lot of liquid, but it will thicken once the remaining ingredients are added.) Add remaining butter a piece at a time, whisking until each piece is incorporated before adding more, until the sauce is emulsified and creamy.
  5. Drain pasta and add to sauce. Cook, stirring often and adding 1 oz Parmesan a little at a time. Once all of the cheese is added, continue to cook, still stirring, until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy and clings to pasta, about 3 minutes. If sauce looks very thick, add more pasta cooking liquid 1–2 Tbsp. at a time to thin (saucier is ideal as it will thicken as it cools). Remove from heat and sprinkle about 2 tsp of freshly ground black pepper; toss again, add roasted broccoli and toasted pine nuts.
  6. Serve pasta topped with reserved lemon rounds and more Parmesan.

Recipe Notes

Pasta component adapted from: "Pasta with Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan." Bon Appetit. March 2020.