Broccoli Orecchiette Recipe
A flavorful Broccoli Orecchiette pasta dish combining tender broccoli florets, crispy bacon bits, and a creamy, spicy sauce made with gochujang paste and tomato paste. This comforting meal is easy to prepare on the stovetop and perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Korean Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 8 ½ ounces orecchiette
- Salt – to taste
- 1 small broccoli head, chopped into bite-sized pieces
Sauce and Seasoning
- 7 ounces bacon bits
- 1 brown onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp gochujang paste (adjust to taste)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- Freshly ground black pepper – for serving
Instructions
- Boil Water and Prep Ingredients: Set a large pot with salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. While waiting, dice the onion and mince the garlic cloves. Remove the stem from the broccoli, break the head into florets, and chop the florets into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook Orecchiette and Broccoli: Add orecchiette to the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes less than package instructions. Then add broccoli florets to the boiling pasta and cook for an additional 3 minutes until tender but still firm.
- Cook Bacon and Aromatics: Heat a skillet over high heat and add bacon bits. Cook them until they become crispy. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Make the Sauce: Stir in dried thyme, tomato paste, and gochujang paste into the skillet with bacon, onion, and garlic. Pour in heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Then reduce the heat to low to keep it warm.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain the orecchiette and broccoli, reserving ½ cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta and broccoli to the skillet with the sauce along with a splash of the reserved cooking water. Toss everything together to coat evenly. Adjust salt to taste.
- Serve: Finish with freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately for best flavor and texture. Enjoy your delicious Broccoli Orecchiette!
Notes
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to help loosen the sauce and ensure it coats the pasta smoothly.
- Adjust the amount of gochujang paste if you prefer a milder or spicier dish.
- You can substitute bacon bits with pancetta or a vegetarian alternative if preferred.
- To make this dish slightly lighter, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Keywords: Broccoli Orecchiette, creamy pasta, bacon pasta, gochujang pasta, Italian pasta, easy dinner, stovetop recipe, spicy cream sauce
Find it online: https://liamjayne.com/broccoli-orecchiette-recipe/
