This Spaghetti with Broccoli Pesto is a simple, uncomplicated, healthy, and delicious 20 minute meal!
YOU GUYS. I’m in cookbook heaven again.
This one is from Donna Hay. You’re all familiar with her, right? – Australian food stylist, author, and magazine editor. Nominated for a James Beard Award in Photography and a James Beard Award for General Cooking, with 22 award-winning cookbooks, which have sold over 4 million copies worldwide and translated into nine languages.
Yet her recipes are unbelievably simple and completely home cook friendly. And so good. Crazy good.
Her latest book, Fresh and Light, lived up to all my expectations.
She proves once again that great food doesn’t have to be complicated or include 50 different ingredients to achieve a flavorful meal. And every recipe has an accompanied photograph that is stunning – this could easily be a coffee table book, it’s so gorgeous. Another winning factor is for many recipes in this book, she includes six variations, with a picture of each one. Boom.
So far I have made four from her book and I struggled with what to share, because they were all wonderful. But since we’re truly transitioning into light, summer foods, this Spaghetti with Broccoli Pesto is perfect.
You can buy Fresh and Light here, and I highly recommend you do. Worth every penny!
Other quick and easy pasta dishes we love
One-Pan Broccoli and Bacon Angel Hair Pasta
Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Spaghetti with Broccoli Pesto
Ingredients
- 7 ounces thin spaghetti
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 clove garlic , roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, al dente, about 7 minutes.
- In the meantime, in a steamer set over boiling water, steam broccoli, covered, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Place steamed broccoli, garlic, parsley, pine cuts, olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in a food processor and give it a whirl until it’s finely chopped.
- Drain pasta and toss with the broccoli mixture. Season with a bit more salt and pepper.
- Serve hot, warm, or cold with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Other Notes
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I’ve been grappling with whether or not to buy this book…and you have pushed me firmly into the YES zone!! That pesto sounds so good. And i want to inhale the cover recipe as well.
This looks absolutely divine! So tasty it’s making me hungry again and it’s past dinner. Love it!
I’m in love!!! What a great recipe. This would get my family to not grumble about broccoli…
Broccoli pesto is genius. LOVE!
This pasta is so beautiful!
This would also work very nice with basil pesto. Very nice idea for quick lunch.
You photos are gorgeous! And I love the idea of broccoli pesto, fabulous!
I am all about fresh & light food in the summer–especially anything pesto related. Most of my family reacts as if I’m poisoning them if I try to feed them basil pest, so broccoli pesto might be a great compromise.
I want what’s on the cover of that book. Also broccoli pesto for the win! I haven’t made it since last summer. I’m overdo for it again.
I actually never heard of Donna Hay until just now. I feel ashamed. This pesto looks and sounds AMAZING! Billy isn’t a huge fan of traditional pesto, so I’m always super psyched to try variations like this. Perfect for the warmer weather, too! I will have to check out this book for sure!
I love trying different kinds of pesto. This broccoli version sounds amazing!
I’ve been wanting to try this, I knew it would be amazing! Such a gorgeous cookbook.
This is so going into the dinner rotation!
I have so many cookbooks and I need to make more of an effort to cook from them. I love the idea of using broccoli for pesto!
I haven’t met a pesto that I didn’t love and this one looks amazing!
Donna Hay’s books are incredible, aren’t they? Looks like this one is no exception. Can’t wait to get a copy.
I just love this cookbook and I need to add this recipe to my must-make list. Love your photos, btw!
OOOh, love this – my kids are both pasta & broccoli addicts! Since they are allergic to nuts I’ll swap out the pine nuts – thank you!
This. This is lovely and must happen soon. And that book, okay off to Amazon.
Oooooh! Broccoli pesto sounds yummy!
Broccoli pesto sounds awesome, and so does that cookbook! I’ll have to see if they have it at the library. Thank you for the recommendation!
This is a lovely light supper. Love the broccoli pesto!
I agree, great and flavorful food does not have to be complicated. I love this broccoli pesto pasta! So light and fresh!
I agree that great food doesn’t have to be complicated! Love this light and fresh pesto pasta!
We have this cookbook too (it’s wonderful!) but haven’t yet tried this recipe! Looks delicious!
I love this! The idea of a broccoli pesto is brilliant and it looks so fresh and bright! Perfect for summer time.
Wow! What a great find, if this recipe is any indication! I love this pesto!