This Sauteed Broccoli and Cavatelli Recipe is pure Italian comfort food. Combining pasta with broccoli creates a delicious meal that is ready in 25 minutes.
How is it possible for the simplest foods to offer the maximum amount of flavor?
Take, for example, the process of sauteing garlic in good quality olive oil.
Simple, right?
As you probably know, this is a humble starting point for so many classic Italian dishes.
Some great examples are pasta dishes like aglio e olio, and side dishes such as this broccoli rabe recipe or this broccolini recipe, to name but a few.
Today, we will saute garlic, along with some key ingredients, to make this cavatelli broccoli recipe.
Get ready for a classic Italian dish!
Mise en place
The first thing we need to do is to bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
Please note that I will be using this Ricotta Cavatelli recipe which becomes al dente in just a couple of minutes. Feel free to also use this simpler recipe for Homemade Cavatelli.
So, if you are using a commercial brand of cavatelli, they may take longer to cook. As a result, please adjust the timing between cooking the pasta and sauteing the broccoli accordingly. You need about 1 pound of pasta.
While waiting for the water to boil, let’s do a little prep work.
Prep the garlic: Crush 4 garlic cloves with the side of your knife. Remove the papery skins and cut off the tips. Give them a coarse chop and set them aside. Feel free to adjust this amount based on your personal preference.
Prep the broccoli: Trim off the tough ends, about a couple of inches from the bottom of 3 medium stalks, about one pound. Cut off the broccoli heads and separate it into the florets. If the florets are large, cut in half or quarters as needed.
With a vegetable peeler, peel the stems. Cut into small bite-sized pieces. Rinse both stems and florets and set aside.
Instructions for cavatelli and broccoli recipe
In a very large skillet, heat about 6 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat. Sauté the chopped garlic cloves for about 1-2 minutes.
Add 2 anchovy fillets and mash them with a fork or the back of a spoon into a smooth paste.
This should take about 1-2 minutes. Feel free to add red pepper flakes for extra heat.
Add the bite-sized pieces of broccoli to the pan and saute for 3-5 minutes.
By this time, the water should be boiling. Time to add the cavatelli.
Transfer about 1 cup of the pasta water to the skillet to cook the broccoli a little more. Turn the heat to medium-high.
Taste your broccoli to make sure it is tender-crisp or cooked to your liking. Add more pasta water if necessary. Do not allow skillet to become dry.
As the cavatelli pasta float to the top, remove with a slotted spoon and add to the skillet with the broccoli.
Add another ladle of pasta water, along with ½ cup of Pecorino Romano Cheese. Turn off the heat and quickly stir to combine.
Then gently toss the pasta and the broccoli together in the pan. Continue tossing and stirring for 1-2 minutes. The extra liquid will be absorbed by the pasta. Conversely, add a little pasta water if the mixture appears dry.
Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
A sprinkle of cheese and a drizzle of olive oil and supper is ready.
Tips
- Use both the head and the stalk of broccoli.
- Although anchovies provide lots of character and flavor to this dish, it is optional.
- The tossing of the pasta in the skillet creates a silky sauce.
- Cavatelli can be replaced with any short pasta that can scoop up the pasta sauce. Orecchiette and small pasta shells are great alternatives.
Cavatelli recipes we love
- Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Recipe
- Avocado Pesto Cavatelli Pasta Recipe
- Broccoli Rabe Cavatelli Pasta
- Cavatelli with Tomato Ricotta Sauce
Recipe origins
It’s back to my younger years for this pasta broccoli recipe.
I grew up with a lot of simple dishes enjoyed with family and friends gathered around the table.
I have so many memories of how my mom would just whip up meals at a moment’s notice.
The scenario would always be the same… the doorbell would ring (at times someone would just pop in unannounced from the back door à la Everybody Loves Raymond) and before the initial greetings were exchanged, the invite to “have a bite” and stay would be heard.
And just like that, the frozen homemade cavatelli pasta would come out of the freezer, and more often than not, served with broccoli.
Pasta con broccoli… a simple and delicious recipe you will make again and again.
Buon Appetito!
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
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Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made this cavatelli with broccoli recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Sauteed Broccoli and Cavatelli Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons olive oil separated
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 anchovy fillets
- pinch red pepper flakes optional
- 3 stalks broccoli florets and stalk, trimmed and chopped
- 1 pound cavatelli pasta homemade or commercial (500 grams)
- 2-3 cups reserved pasta water
- ½ cup Pecorino Romano Cheese freshly grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Toppings:
- Extra virgin olive oil to drizzle
- Pecorino Romano cheese to taste
Instructions
- Over high heat, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- While waiting for the water to boil, trim and cut up the stems and head of the broccoli. Rinse and set aside.
- In a large skillet, over medium-low heat, heat 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Sauté the chopped garlic for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the anchovies and mash them together with a fork or the back of a spoon into a smooth paste.
- If using, add red pepper flakes.
- Add the bite-sized pieces of broccoli to the pan and saute for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente.
- Transfer about 1 cup of the pasta water to the skillet to cook the broccoli a little more. Turn the heat to medium-high. Add more pasta water if necessary. Do not allow skillet to become dry. Make sure to taste so that you have the right texture.
- As the cavatelli pasta float to the top, remove with a slotted spoon and add to the skillet with the broccoli.
- Add another ladle of pasta water, along with ½ cup of Pecorino Romano Cheese. Turn off the heat and quickly stir to combine.
- Then gently toss the pasta and the broccoli together in the pan. Continue tossing and stirring for 1-2 minutes. The extra liquid will be absorbed by the pasta. Conversely, add a little pasta water if the mixture appears dry.
- Top with extra cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, if using.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use both the head and the stalk of broccoli.
- Although anchovies provide lots of character and flavor to this dish, it is totally optional.
- The tossing of the pasta in the skillet creates a silky sauce.
- Cavatelli can be replaced with any short pasta that can scoop up the pasta sauce. Orechiette and small pasta shells are great alternatives.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on March 2, 2018, and republished on March 9, 2020, with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!
Brenda
Made this tonight, enjoyed every bite! Your recipe is now our family recipe. You describe the timing and technique beautifully. The technique is what other recipes have lacked. Peeling broccoli stems—such a win! Plus, anchovies! Of course! They made the dish perfect.
Maria
How wonderful Brenda! Thank you so much for sharing!
Clare
I have made cavatelli and broccoli for many years. This recipe is the best ever and I will never look for another!
Maria
Thank you so much Clare! So thrilled to read this.
Adele
Went to the market and the only pasta I could find (due to vivid-19) was elbow macaroni. Will this work?
Maria
Thanks for your interest Adele. Yes, I think any short pasta will work well with the broccoli. Enjoy.
Diane
Hi,
Made this tonight for dinner & loved it! Have made before but without the addition of anchovies which does add a wonderful flavor. Will try next time adding chicken sausage (husband’s request) as he missed the “meat”.
Thank you!
Maria
Yes, the sausage for our meat lovers is a must… sounds just like my husband ♥ I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, appreciate it Diane.
Cath
One year when I taught Kindergarten, I had a student who went home for lunch and everyday and I mean everyday, he’d literally crow out the news that he was having pasta broccoli for lunch. If his meal was anything like this very tempting recipe, no wonder he was always crowing out this wonderful news… btw, he was eating at nona’s house.
Maria
Love this Cath… thanks for sharing. There really is nothing like a home cooked meal and I am sure it was prepared with so much love…
This dish is truly a bowl of comfort food… Thanks for your kind words.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
My mother-in-law used to make this but if I remember correctly she had some form of bacon or pancetta in hers. I know I would enjoy your version with the anchovies as it would be a much lighter dish.
Maria
This “meatless” variation of broccoli and cavatelli would often be made for Friday supper. When this dish would be prepared for any other day of the week, homemade sausages or pancetta would be included -just like your mother-in-law. Appreciate your comment Karen, thanks for stopping by ♥
Jessica
Thank you, GOD bless you more…
Maria
Thank you Jessica ♥
Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen
Pasta with broccoli is certainly one of my favourites and with cavatelli.. heaven!
Maria
Definitively one of my favorites also! Thanks for stopping by Alida ♥
Paula Barbarito Levitt
Classic southern Italian flavors and comfort food at its finest! Another recipe typifying the simplicity of true Italian food.
Maria
Truer words were never spoken… Thanks so much for stopping by Paula, appreciate it ♥
Karen M
Looks fabulous!! I remember the same things but it was my grandmother’s house…one of my last entries on my blog was much the same senerio. Hope we are people that are as good and wonderful as they were♥️
Maria
Thanks so much Karen ♥ The generosity, sincerity and kindness of a whole generation… it is definitively something to aspire to 🙂
I must hope over to your site! Thanks so much for stopping by… happy Friday!