Broccoli Pine Nut Pasta Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.
• Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a saucepan; add the garlic and saute in the oil for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Remove from the heat.
• Place cooked pasta into a serving bowl; add garlic-oil mixture and toss gently.
• Add the broccoli, bell peppers, tomatoes, and capers to the pasta; toss to combine.
• Right before ready to serve, add in the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste; toss gently.
• Sprinkle pine nuts and parsley on top; serve immediately.
• Pass around a cruet of balsamic vinegar and lemon wedges for those who want to add a little splash of zesty flavor to their pasta dish.

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.