Purple sprouting broccoli orecchiette with an almond crumb
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Purple sprouting broccoli orecchiette with an almond crumb

By Rosie Birkett

Showcase purple sprouting broccoli in this quick pasta dish. Anchovies, lemon and parsley impart a punchy flavour, while the crumb gives an irresistible crunch

  • Prep:15 mins
    Cook:30 mins
  • Serves 2
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 592
  • fat 29g
  • saturates 4g
  • carbs 55g
  • sugars 5g
  • fibre 7g
  • protein 16g
  • salt 1.6g

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 good-quality anchovies in oil
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • ½ -1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 100ml white wine or vermouth
  • 200g purple sprouting broccoli, florets and leaves carefully removed, stalks roughly chopped
  • 100g dried orecchiette, or pasta of your choice
  • ½ lemon, juiced (save the zest for the almond crumb)
  • 1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
  • grated parmesan, to serve
  • 1 slice stale sourdough (about 50g)
  • 1 tbsp flaked almonds, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp parsley stems, finely chopped
  • 1 rosemary sprig, leaves picked and finely chopped
  • ½ lemon, zested
  • garlic clove, finely chopped

Method

  1. To make the almond crumb, blitz the bread in a food processor to coarse crumbs. Toast the almonds in a dry, non-stick frying pan until golden, then tip into a bowl. Heat the oil in the same pan over a medium heat, then add the parsley, rosemary, lemon zest and garlic, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and fry until crunchy and golden, stirring constantly, for 3-5 mins. Tip into the bowl with the almonds, add a pinch of salt and stir to combine.

  2. Put the frying pan back on the heat and add the extra virgin olive oil and anchovies, stirring until the anchovies have melted into the oil, a couple of mins. Tip in the shallot, chilli and garlic and cook, stirring, for another 4 mins until the shallot has softened and is fragrant. Pour over the wine, and cook for another few mins until mostly evaporated, then remove the pan from the heat.

  3. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Once at a rolling boil, add the broccoli stalks and boil for 2 mins, then add the leaves and florets and boil for a further 1-2 mins until tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer from the water to a bowl of iced water. Keep the broccoli water on the boil.

  4. Tip the pasta into the broccoli water and cook following pack instructions until al dente. A couple of mins before it’s cooked, put the pan with the anchovies back over a low-medium heat, remove the broccoli from the iced water and add to the frying pan, stirring to coat. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking water, then turn the heat up under the frying pan and add the pasta and a good slosh of its water, tossing to combine. Squeeze over the lemon juice and stir in the parsley, then divide between plates and top with the almond crumb and grated parmesan.

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