Cavatelli and Broccoli

If you’re into pasta with a vegetable kind of lover, then this garlicky (Aglio e Olio) sauce is delicious with Cavatelli and Broccoli and the perfect Italian pasta meal to make any day of the week.

The sauce can be a spicy flavored sauce with the addition of red pepper flakes or tamed down to your liking with lots of freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese added.

If you're a Cavatelli and Broccoli lover then this Italian pasta recipe will be your new favorite meal during that busy work week it's so simple to make!

This super easy pasta dish has just a few ingredients added and is perfect for busy weeknights, the kids love it and it's a good way to get them to eat their veggies.

Whether you use store-bought premade vegetables and pasta or all homemade this will be the perfect solution for busy folks who want a tasty meal in less than 30 minutes.

Of course, you can substitute a different veggie in place of broccoli, we surely will give you some ideas below for those picky eaters, but this one is a family favorite for over 100 years.

Scroll down to the printable recipe card and read just how simple this pasta and broccoli combination is to make it's so easy!

Easy Cavatelli Pasta

We love homemade pasta and cavatelli is an easy favorite.


Cavatelli is really easy to make from scratch and broccoli is almost always found fresh all year long.


You can, however, buy them frozen if you're in a hurry.


These are great with sauteed broccoli and the garlic sauce is addicting in flavor.


This is a nice light meal especially when you're in a hurry the whole dish from start to finish can be less than 30 minutes when using store-bought ingredients.


Either way, these are a big hit here in my household.


My whole family just loves them and we make this Italian-style pasta dish often even with different pasta so don't be afraid to use whatever you have on hand!

Other Vegetables to Substitute for Broccoli

• sauteed spinach
• artichoke hearts
• sundried tomatoes or chopped raw fresh tomatoes
• sauteed escarole
• sauteed broccoli rabe
• sauteed peppers of any kind
• sauteed squash zucchini or yellow
• sauteed mushrooms
• steamed green beans
• sauteed asparagus
• steamed cauliflower
• vegetable medley

Tips

1. always steam and drain the broccoli
2. always salt the water then drain but do not rinse pasta(the sauce will stick to the pasta better)
3. never over saute the garlic or burn it will ruin this dish garlic should be light golden brown in color
4. refer to package instructions to cook store-bought cavatelli
5. broccoli gets stronger the next day in flavor if you have leftovers we try to eat this fresh the same day
6. homemade cavatelli is done when it floats to the top of the water after boiling 

Cavatelli Pasta Suggestions

• We use fresh pasta made from scratch, however, you can find it in the frozen food sections (or dry pasta in which I do not recommend.

• The soft homemade of course is always the best.

• Use fresh broccoli not frozen when possible.

• When boiling the pasta always add salt.

• When they float to the top of the boiling water, they are done.

• Always use a good grade extra virgin olive oil in this recipe.

Note: if you're not a cavatelli lover, use any kind of pasta cooked to package instructions your family prefers.

Meat Additions

• cooked Italian sliced sausage
• sliced pepperoni
• chopped and fried prosciutto or deli ham
• crumbled fried bacon
• cooked filet mignon slices
• any cooked leftover meat you prefer

Cavatelli and Broccoli Pin for later

Easy Pasta Meals

What's better than finding a pasta dish made in less than 30 minutes on a weeknight?


Of course, you can make this totally from scratch with fresh broccoli and fresh homemade pasta however if you want a delicious you can choose any of the suggestions for vegetables and toss them in with the cooked pasta.


The garlic sauce takes hardly any time and viola a fabulous (almost gourmet meal) in minutes from start to finish!

Cavatelli and Broccoli

Yield: 4

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Cavatelli is an Italian style pasta and this recipe dish is a coated pasta made with olive oil and garlic sauce with added broccoli

Ingredients

• 1 pound of Cavatelli (homemade or store-bought) boiled in saltwater and drained do not rinse
• 1 bunch of fresh broccoli steamed or use broccoli rabe (rapini)
• 3 large garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken broth or use pasta water reserved from boiling cavatelli
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/4 cup or more to taste of Pecorino Romano cheese grated
• 2 or 3 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley and basil
• salt, pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons of butter

Instructions

1. First, steam the broccoli, drain it, and set it aside.
2. Saute garlic for 1 minute with 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large deep pan or until fragrant then add the drained steamed broccoli until heated around 2 minutes.
3. Add the broth or water, wine, and around 3 tablespoons butter heat another minutes or so till butter are melted.
4. Boil the cavatelli in salted water, drain do not rinse it.
5. Homemade cavatelliwill float to the top when done in just a few minutes.
6. Refer to package instructions for store-bought cavatelli.
7. Stir in the cavatelli and add lots of grated romano cheese along with the fresh herbs, spices, salt, pepper to taste.
8. Drizzle a little more olive oil over the top and add a little red pepper flake as a garnish and serve.

Notes:

Tips

1. always steam and drain the broccoli
2. always salt the water then drain but do not rinse pasta(the sauce will stick to the pasta better)
3. never over saute the garlic or burn it will ruin this dish garlic should be light golden brown in color
4. refer to package instructions to cook store-bought cavatelli
5. broccoli gets stronger the next day in flavor if you have leftovers we try to eat this fresh the same day

Other Vegetables to Substitute for Broccoli

• sauteed spinach
• artichoke hearts
• sundried tomatoes or chopped raw fresh tomatoes
• sauteed escarole
• sauteed broccoli rabe
• sauteed peppers of any kind
• sauteed squash zucchini or yellow
• sauteed mushrooms
• steamed green beans
• sauteed asparagus
• steamed cauliflower
• vegetable medley

Nutrition Facts

Calories

538.78

Fat (grams)

24.30

Sat. Fat (grams)

10.39

Carbs (grams)

57.28

Fiber (grams)

4.27

Net carbs

53.01

Sugar (grams)

1.88

Protein (grams)

17.64

Sodium (milligrams)

634.97

Cholesterol (grams)

44.31

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Cavatelli and Broccoli Pin for later

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