Description
A vibrant and nutritious pasta dish made with broccoli and chickpeas, perfect for busy weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces of pasta (whole grain or gluten-free)
- 1 cup of broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 1 can (15 oz) of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnishing)
- Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Begin by boiling a large pot of salted water. Once it’s at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically about 8-10 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, grab a medium skillet and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing them for about a minute, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add in the broccoli florets to the skillet. Cook for around 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until they are vibrant green and tender-crisp.
- Fold in the drained chickpeas and let them warm through for another 2-3 minutes. Make sure everything is well combined.
- Once the pasta is cooked, reserve about a cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the rest. Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet along with the lemon zest and juice. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time.
- Season your dish with salt and pepper to taste, then serve right away. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and top with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
This dish can be easily customized by swapping chickpeas with white beans or using zucchini noodles for a low-carb option. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 5mg