mean green pesto pasta

  • 2 small heads broccoli (500g), roughly chopped 
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 375g orecchiette 
  • ⅓ cup (45g) slivered almonds or pine nuts
  • 1½ cups basil leaves (the star of pesto)
  • 1 cup mint leaves (a fresh twist)
  • 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
  • ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice
  • 1 cup (80g) finely grated parmesan
  • sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
  1. Place the broccoli in a food processor and pulse until it resembles grains of rice (try 5 bursts of 3 seconds each). 
  2. Place half the oil in a large deep-sided non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the broccoli and cook, stirring with a spatula, for 3–4 minutes or until it’s almost soft but still bright green. Remove from the heat. 
  3. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water, stirring once with a spatula, for 8–10 minutes or until just soft. 
  4. Place the almonds, basil, mint, parsley, lemon rind and juice, the parmesan and the remaining oil in the food processor and process into a rough paste. Pour it into the pan with the broccoli, scraping the sides with a spatula.
  5. Carefully reserve ½ cup (125ml) of the pasta’s cooking liquid. Place a colander in the sink and, wearing oven gloves, pour in the pasta to drain. Place the hot pasta and the reserved liquid into the pan with the pesto. Place over low heat, add some salt and pepper and stir until heated through and combined. 
  6. Divide the pasta between serving bowls and top with some extra parmesan to serve, if you like. Serves 4–6

Photography: Chris Court 

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donna hay team

Hi Joy, of course you can freeze the pesto and broccoli mix. Enjoy! DH Team

Joy Roncken

Can you freeze just the pesto & brocolli mix to heat though with fresh pasta at a later date?

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