Zizi's Adventures - Real Food, Real Stories

Broccoli Pesto Pasta

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I love beetroot, carrot, potato, parsnip, butternut squash, kale but I’m getting a little tired of these winter vegetables that has been feeding us for the last 6 months. I want spring vegetables now… sorrel and spinach are available at the markets – I already eat them – but I’m longing for the spring (and summer!) vegetables and fruits to start appearing. Like asparagus, peas, strawberries, raspberries… Oh how I miss them!

I don’t even know how the agriculture can accomodate to this extremist weather. This winter has just been too long. But there are signs that our hope is not superfluous.  The amount of daylight is getting longer, the temperature is rising and we can see the sun shining through the big, fluffy, white clouds.

  “The most beautiful springs are those that come after the most horrible winters!”

– Mehmet Murat Ildan

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This broccoli pesto pasta dish can be a very easy to make weeknight meal. Although broccoli is not very seasonal I wanted to use another vegetable to make a delicious meal that reminds me of summer.

Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Ingredients (serves 3-4)

– 350 g broccoli, peel stalk, then stalk and florets chopped
– 50 g walnut
– 40 g grated parmesan
– 50 ml extra virgin olive oil
– 3 cloves garlic, peeled
– juice of 1/2 lemon
– salt, pepper
– 350-400 g pasta

Method

In a dry non-stick pan toast walnuts for 4-5 minutes and set aside.

In a medium sized pan bring water to a boil. Add salt into the boiling water and blanch the broccoli stalks and florets for 2 minutes. With the help of a drain spoon, take out the broccoli and set aside. Use the same water to cook the pasta al dente. Drain (in the meantime save about 100-150 ml cooking water) and set aside.

Add 200 g blanched broccoli (save a few florets), toasted walnuts, grated parmesan, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice to your food processor and pulse until it gets smooth. Pour this creamy pesto mixture over the cooked pasta, add a bit of cooking water and toss until combined. Add the leftover broccoli florets and serve immediately with a handful of grated parmesan and a drizzle of lemon juice over the top.

Vegan Broccoli Cream Soup

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Let’s start the new year with a delicious, nutritious, vegan soup: broccoli cream soup. It’s very easy and quick to make, you only need 25-30 minutes.

Did you know that the word broccoli comes from the Italian plural of broccolo, refers to “the flowering top of a cabbage”. Broccoli is high in vitamin B1, B2, B3 and C, as well as dietary fiber; it also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties. When you cook something from it, use also the stalk – peeled, don’t throw it away!

Instead of cream potato makes the soup creamy and silky. Potato contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B6 and C, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. The fiber content of a potato with skin (2 g) is equivalent to that of many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals.

All in all, this soup is a healthy option to start the new year with (especially after Christmas indulgences :)).

Vegan Broccoli Cream Soup

Ingredients (serves 4)

– 1 medium head of broccoli (about 400 g), peel stalk, stalk and florets chopped
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, chopped
– 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
– 1 liter (4 cups) vegetable stock + water to thin, as needed
– salt, pepper
– olive oil
– freshly squeezed lemon juice + baguette to serve

Method

In a pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sweat onions and garlic until soft (5-6 minutes). Add vegetable stock, potato and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer with a lid on top for about 10-15 minutes. Add in broccoli and cook until the vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove soup from heat and purée with a hand blender until smooth (if you find it too thick add a little bit more water to thin). Serve immediately in bowls with baguette on the side, dribble olive oil and lemon juice on top.