ROASTED BROCCOLI PASTA WITH LEMON & FETA

Could you keep it simple? This saying applies to everything in life, even food. Buttered pasta with a vegetable and a healthy amount of salt and vinegar is one of my favourite “simple” meals. It’s simple and delicious, and there are a million variations. Roasted Broccoli Pasta With Lemon and Feta is buttered pasta with charred broccoli, steak seasonings, bright lemon, salty feta, and brightly coloured. It’s a flavour combination that is unbeatable.

What is STEAK SEASONING?

One of my favourite pre-made spice mixes is steak seasoning. It’s also known as Montreal steak seasoning. The chunky, crunchy blend of spices contains large amounts of salt, pepper and garlic. This spice blend is great for steak and works well with potatoes, pasta, and many other foods. The coarsely ground spices give food a crunchy texture, subtle smokiness, and flavour. It’s a great addition to any dish.

Do I have to use the whole WHEAT PASTA or just a portion?

Any pasta can be used for this recipe. However, I prefer the mildly nutty flavour and texture of whole wheat pasta to go with the flavours. You can also use long-shaped pasta like linguine or spaghetti, but shorter shapes are easier to mix with the other ingredients. Bowtie or rotini can be used in place of penne.

FRESH LEMON IS A MUST

Fresh lemons add a lot to the flavour of this pasta, so don’t skip them! Although whole lemons are more expensive than the rest, if you purchase a large bag of citrus and store them in your freezer, you will pay less per lemon. Although frozen lemons can be used for zesting and juicing, they are not suitable for garnishing or cutting.

DO FROZEN BROCCOLI WORK?

You know me, if you know, I love to roast frozen broccoli. It’s quick, simple, and delicious. However, I recommend fresh broccoli over frozen for this recipe. Fresh broccoli isn’t as “wet” as frozen broccoli. This gives you a better charring on the outside, which adds a smoky flavour and texture to the pasta. Although you can use frozen broccoli in pinches, fresh is better for this recipe.

ROASTED BROCCOLI PASTA WITH LEMON & FETA

Roasted Broccoli Pasta With Lemon and Feta is a simple pasta recipe with a big flavour. A quick and delicious weeknight meal!

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. Broccoli crowns ($1.79)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.16)
• 1 teaspoon steak seasoning ($0.10)
• 1 fresh lemon (0.39)
• 8 oz. Whole wheat penne pasta ($0.50).
• 2 Tbsp butter (0.20)
• 1 oz. 1 oz.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Pre-heat the oven to 400oF. Then cut the broccoli into small pieces. Spread the florets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the steak seasoning on top. Toss the broccoli in olive oil until well coated with seasonings and oil.
• Broccoli can be roasted for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are crispy.
• While the broccoli roasts, make the rest of your dish. Penne will be made with boiling water. Boil the water until it is boiling. Add it to the pot once the pasta has boiled and boiled for another 8-10 minutes. The pasta should be drained in a colander.
• Once the pasta has boiled, zest a lemon and cut it into small pieces.
• Then drain the pasta and return it to the pot. The butter, the roasted broccoli, the butter, 1 tsp lemon zest and two lemon wedges should be added to the pot. Mix all ingredients and let the pasta heat melt the butter. You can add a few drops of the reserved pasta water if the pasta is too dry.
• Sprinkle the pasta with crumbled cheese and, if you like, some steak seasoning. Serve with additional lemon wedges.

NUTRITION

Serving Size: 1 Serving Calories: 345.7 Kilocalories Carbohydrates 50.93 G Protein: 13 g Fat 12.03 g Sodium 204.83 mg Fiber 10.38 g