Dish of Pasta with Broccoli
(click to enlarge)

Pasta with Broccoli


Italy - Sicily   -   Pasta chi Vruoccoli
Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 2 main
**
45 min
Prep		 Pasta with broccoli is very popular in Italy. This Sicilian recipe shows the influence of North Africa, resulting from a hundred years the Arab occupation.




10
------
3/4
5
2
2
1-1/2
3/4
2
1
1/2
1/4
------
7
oz
---
oz
oz

t
c
oz
T

t
t
---
oz
Broccoli (1)
-- Sauce
Raisins
Onions
Anchovy filets (2)
Tomato Paste
Pasta Water
Pine Nuts (3)
Olive Oil
Saffron pinch
Salt
Pepper
----------
Pasta (4)
Prep   -   (15 min)
  1. Set RAISINS soaking in warm water - they'll need at least 1/2 hour.
  2. Cut BROCCOLI appropriately. If using a stemmy variety keep stems and florets separate.
  3. Chop ONIONS fairly small.
  4. Chop ANCHOVY FILETS small.
  5. Soak SAFFRON in 1 T water.
Run   -   (30 min)
  1. Steam Broccoli Florets until barely tender, about 5 minutes. Hold aside.
  2. Place a 2 cup container under your strainer so you won't forget to keep Pasta Water. Bring plenty of salted water to a boil and cook Pasta the usual way - but only until slightly undercooked. Drain, keeping 1-1/2 cups of the water. Tumble pasta with a few drops of oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
  3. In a 3 quart sauté pan of similar, heat Olive Oil and fry Onions stirring until light golden, Stir in Anchovy Fillets and fry stirring another minute.
  4. Stir in Tomato Paste and Pasta Water. Drain Raisins and stir in along with Pine Nuts. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer over low heat for a few minutes.
  5. Stir in Saffron then Pasta. Simmer for a few minutes until pasta is fully cooked.
  6. Stir in Broccoli, cover and simmer a couple minutes until fully warmed.
  7. Serve hot, as is or with a sprinkling of gratings of soft Romano cheese.
NOTES:

  1. Broccoli:

      Weight is as trimmed and prepared for the recipe. It can be Rapini, Brocolini (as in the photo), Chinese Broccoli or regular broccoli florets. For details see our Cabbage Flowers page.

  2. Anchovies:

      Most canned anchovies are from Morocco - and are of inferior quality. Use Italian anchovies if possible - for details see our Anchovy Products page.

  3. Pine Nuts:

      Pine nuts can most easily be found in markets serving an Italian community, but also often in markets serving Korean communities, or at Trader Joe's. If you don't have them, raw pistachios are the best substitute, with chopped raw cashews next. Almonds don't work well at all.

  4. Pasta:

      Any short, tubular pasta will do. The photo shows Gamelli, one of my favorites.
  5. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
yhv_brocpasta1 090824 lcts   -   www.clovegarden.com
©Andrew Grygus - agryg@aaxnet.com - Linking to and non-commercial use of this page is permitted.