Orecchiatte with Broccolini, Carrots & Arugula Recipe
When I flew to Florence from England, I had to carry a tiny backpack because of Ryanair’s baggage restrictions. Needless to say, I anticipated buying a ton of Italian food and only packed the minimal number of clothing. At the end of my trip, the backpack was ¾ filled with foodstuff and a packet of orecchiatte was among my dream purchases.
So. Worth. It.
Orecchiatte is typically homemade and eaten in Puglia, a region in southern Italy. Traditionally, the pasta is eaten with broccoli rabe or broccoli. My whole approach to Italian food changed when I finally got to eat in Italy. The food is kept incredibly simple to let the flavors of the fresh ingredients shine through.
In keeping with the Italian spirit, I created an orecchiatte dish with my favorite vegetables and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. It’s a light, easy dish perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Buon appetito!
Orecchiatte with Broccolini, Carrots & Arugula
Serves 1-2
Ingredients:
- 1 cup orecchiatte pasta
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup red onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup broccolini
- ½ cup carrots, sliced thinly
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Handful of arugula (rocket)
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- Handful of shaved parmesan cheese
Boil orechiette in salted water for approximately 10-12 minutes.
As the orecchiatte is cooking, heat up olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the garlic, onion slices and red pepper flakes until the onions are soft and the oil is fragrant.
Add carrots and broccolini and stir together for a few minutes until the vegetables are almost cooked. By this time, the orecchiatte would be almost ready. Using a slotted spoon, add the pasta into the pan with the vegetables and toss everything together. Add a small ladle of the pasta water into the pan and stir until it evaporates. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Place the pasta and vegetables on a plate and add arugula on top. Squeeze a slice of lemon over the top of the dish and sprinkle some parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!