Pasta with broccoli and ‘nduja, how delicious it is, a very simple first course with Calabrian ‘nduja, a spicy cured meat made from pork scraps, mainly fat and chili pepper. I decided to use ‘nduja to prepare a classic dish of Calabrian cuisine, pasta with broccoli, often made as a soup, slightly brothy, with garlic oil, and often with the addition of anchovies. Other times I prepare it dry with creamy broccoli, and I always add a little anchovy, but when I want to prepare a different dish, ‘nduja comes to my rescue as it pairs excellently with pasta but also with all vegetables, like escarole, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, but it’s also delicious with potatoes and legumes, so if you want, you can try all the alternatives, just replace the broccoli with other ingredients.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for Pasta with Broccoli and ‘Nduja
- 10.5 oz pasta
- 17.5 oz broccoli
- 1.75 oz 'nduja
- to taste olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- to taste salt
Tools for Preparing Pasta with Broccoli and ‘Nduja
- 1 Pot
- 1 Pan
- 1 Skimmer
- 1 Colander
Steps to Prepare Pasta with Broccoli and ‘Nduja
Place a pot with plenty of water on the stove where we will first cook the broccoli and then the pasta.
While the water reaches a boil, prepare the broccoli by cutting into florets, and use the tender parts of the stem, preferably peeled, which are great even raw. I used to eat them straight from the garden as a child.
Cook the washed broccoli in the boiling water. Cook them well but avoid overcooking, and drain them, reserving the cooking water, as we will immediately add the pasta and salt to the same water, stirring the pasta to prevent sticking. Ideally, lift out the broccoli with a skimmer or a skimmer.
In a pan, put a clove of garlic with olive oil and let it heat over low heat. Then add the ‘nduja over low heat, add a little pasta cooking water, and let it melt, then add the broccoli and let them absorb the flavors. If needed, add a little more pasta cooking water.
Once the pasta is ready, drain it, but do not throw away the cooking water. Toss the pasta in the pan with the broccoli and ‘nduja, let it absorb the flavors well, and if you want it creamier, blend some of the broccoli with a little water, but it’s also delicious simply by adding a bit of cooking water and letting it absorb the flavors well in the pan. Serve our delicious pasta with broccoli and spicy Calabrian ‘nduja immediately. Remember to remove the garlic clove.
