Orecchiette with Broccolini and Mushrooms
Servings: 4 servings
Calories:
Broccoli rabe and broccolini weren't veggies I grew up with. Come to think of it, we rarely had broccoli. I love it all and it's on my grocery list each week. Broccoli rabe has a bitter flavor similar to mustard greens. Broccolini is easily confused with broccoli rabe but its flavor is sweeter, more refined, and delicate.Both are also faster to cook than broccoli on a weeknight. This is a great recipe at the end of a long day when looking for a quick and hearty meal to feed a family of four!
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Equipment
- Large Dutch Oven
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb. broccoli rabe or broccolini trimmed, washed
- 8 oz. bella portobello mushrooms sliced and chopped
- ½ cup diced onion
- 8 cups of water with 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup pasta water reserved more as needed
- 2 or 3 cloves of garlic peeled and slivered
- 1 cup bread crumbs preferably homemade
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- 1 tsp Italian dried herbs
- 1 lb. orecchiette pasta
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Vegan Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Place water and salt in a large pot, and bring to boil.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add bread crumbs and red pepper flakes and cook until bread crumbs are golden, 3 minutes or so. Remove and set aside.
- Cook broccolini in boiling salted water until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain well, and cut into large pieces holding the integrity of the florets if possible.
- Cook pasta in same pot.
- Meanwhile, add sliced mushrooms and onion to the skillet and dry saute until slightly browned.
- Add cooled broccolini to skillet over medium-low heat and toss well; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- When it is warm, add garlic, bread crumbs, and add Italian Seasoning Mix. Mix well.
- When pasta is done, drain it, reserving 2 cups of cooking water.
- Add pasta in skillet with broccolini mixture. Add 1 cup pasta water. The pasta water and bread crumbs will create an amazing sauce. Add more pasta water to desired sauce constancy.
- Adjust seasonings and serve with Vegan Parmesan.
Notes
I think this recipe’s secret weapon is toasting the bread crumbs which is a key step to creating a rich flavored sauce when mixed with the starchy pasta water.
To reheat leftovers add either a splash of water, vegetable broth, or plant-based milk to loosen sauce to desired constancy.
To reheat leftovers add either a splash of water, vegetable broth, or plant-based milk to loosen sauce to desired constancy.
