Orecchiette with purple sprouting broccoli & Calabrian pesto
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Orecchiette with purple sprouting broccoli & Calabrian pesto

By Diana Henry

Whip up some homemade pesto and serve with orecchiette and broccoli. This one isn’t just good with pasta – you can also serve it with chicken or fish, and spoon it onto warm focaccia

  • Prep:20 mins
    Cook:35 mins
  • Serves 6
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 463
  • fat 21g
  • saturates 3g
  • carbs 50g
  • sugars 0g
  • fibre 7g
  • protein 14g
  • salt 0.1g

Ingredients

  • 400g purple sprouting broccoli
  • 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 375g orecchiette or other pasta shapes
  • grated parmesan or pecorino (or vegetarian alternative), to serve
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ small red onion, chopped
  • 1 plum tomato, chopped
  • 75g aubergine, cut into small chunks
  • 125g roasted peppers from a jar, drained
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 1 red chilli, halved, deseeded and chopped (leave the seeds in if you want a more fiery pesto)
  • 40g blanched almonds, lightly toasted in a dry pan
  • 60g ricotta
  • 10g basil or parsley leaves

Method

  1. First, make the base of the pesto. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a frying pan and add the onion, tomato and aubergine. Fry over a medium-low heat for 8-10 mins until the onion is pale gold and the tomatoes and aubergine are soft. Add the peppers and cook for a couple of minutes, then add the garlic and chilli, and cook for another 2 mins. Transfer to a plate and leave to cool.

  2. Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Trim the broccoli at the base, then halve any large pieces lengthways. Put in a roasting tin, drizzle with the olive oil and season. Add the garlic and turn everything using your hands – make sure the garlic is under the broccoli so it will toast without burning. Cook in the oven for 15-20 mins (check on it during cooking for doneness).

  3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. It usually takes a little less time than it says on the packet.

  4. For the pesto, tip everything on the plate into a food processor along with the almonds and the remaining 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Season and pulse to blend everything together. Stir in the ricotta and taste for seasoning. Tear the basil and stir that in too.

  5. Drain the pasta and toss it with the broccoli (including the garlicky juices from the roasting tin) then use as much of the pesto as it takes to coat the pasta and serve the rest on the side. Grind over some black pepper and serve immediately with the grated cheese.

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