Broccoli Pesto Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add 1/4 cup salt, then add the broccoli. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bright green and just tender, about 5 minutes. Use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer to a food processor; keep the water boiling.
• Drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook according to the package's directions for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, add the garlic to the broccoli and pulse, scraping the bowl occasionally, until smooth. Add the mint, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pulse until smooth, then add the oil with the machine running.
• Drain the pasta well and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the pesto. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and toss until the pasta is evenly coated. If the mixture seems thick, fold in the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time. The mixture will thicken as it cools, so you want it to be saucy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide among serving dishes and top with lemon zest, then grate cheese over. Sprinkle with the walnuts, grind more black pepper on top, then drizzle with olive oil. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.

Steps:

• Steam the broccoli for 6 minutes, until very tender but still bright. Remove from the heat, rinse and drain on paper towels.
• Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop in the garlic. When the garlic is minced and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the broccoli and the basil to the machine and turn on. When contents are finely chopped, stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Turn on the machine again and drizzle in the olive oil. Purée until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste and the grated cheese, and process until well blended.
• Transfer to a bowl and serve as a dip, spread or sauce with pasta. If serving with pasta, this amount will be plenty for a pound of pasta. Thin out with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before tossing with the pasta.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. If using frozen broccoli, thaw it according to the directions on the package.
• Finely grate the parmesan, then place 1/3 cup into the bowl of a food processor along with the broccoli, 2/3 cup basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. While the processor is running, drizzle in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Sprinkle a work surface with the cornmeal and use a rolling pin and/or your hands to stretch the dough into a 12-inch circle. Spray the baking sheet with cooking spray and place the dough onto it. Spread the broccoli pesto over the dough, leaving a border for the crust. Scatter the goat cheese over the top of the pesto, then thinly slice the tomato and arrange the slices on top.
• Bake until the cheese and tomatoes are softened and the crust is golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Garnish the pizza with the remaining parmesan, the remaining 1/3 cup basil and the red pepper flakes. Drizzle with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil and slice the pizza into 8 wedges.

Steps:

• Tip the pasta into a large pan of boiling salted water and cook according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, bring a smaller pan of salted water to the boil, add the broccoli and boil for 4 minutes.
• Drain the broccoli and return it to the pan. Lightly mash the broccoli with a potato masher or fork. Finely grate the garlic and zest the lemon, then mix into the broccoli with the chilli flakes and pine nuts. Cut the lemon in half and keep for later.
• Drain the pasta and return it to the pan. Stir in the broccoli pesto and squeeze over the juice of 1⁄2 lemon. Pour in the olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper. Spoon in the grated Parmesan, toss the pasta well and serve.