Description
Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli is a vibrant and creamy Italian-inspired dish featuring tender mafaldine pasta tossed in a silky lemon-infused butter and cream sauce with finely chopped broccoli and garlic. Finished with fresh lemon zest, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of salt and pepper, this recipe offers a refreshing balance of tangy citrus and rich creaminess, perfect for a comforting yet light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1/2 lb Mafaldine pasta (or any pasta you prefer)
Sauce
- 3 tbsp Salty butter
- 1.5 cups Broccoli (super finely chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic (finely diced)
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 Lemon (zest only)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 Lemon (juice only)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the mafaldine pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the broccoli and butter base: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the salty butter. Add the finely chopped broccoli and a pinch of flaky salt, cooking for about 1 minute until softened slightly.
- Add garlic: Stir in the finely diced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant and softened, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the lemon cream sauce: Slowly pour in the heavy cream, then add the lemon zest and Parmesan cheese. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently, allowing it to thicken slightly as the pasta finishes cooking.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained al dente pasta to the sauce along with the juice from half a lemon. Stir well to combine and let cook for an additional minute on low heat to allow the pasta to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
- Adjust the sauce consistency: If the sauce seems dry, gradually stir in reserved pasta water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until the sauce reaches a silky, creamy consistency.
Notes
- Finely chopping the broccoli ensures it cooks quickly and blends smoothly into the sauce.
- Using salty butter and flaky salt helps season the dish naturally without overpowering the flavors.
- Reserve pasta water carefully to adjust the sauce texture perfectly.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese provides a richer flavor than pre-grated varieties.
- Adjust lemon juice to taste if you prefer a more tangy or subtle citrus flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Mafaldine pasta, Lemon pasta, Broccoli pasta, Creamy lemon sauce, Italian pasta recipe, Vegetarian pasta
