Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese requires about 22 minutes from start to finish. For $2.2 per serving, this recipe covers 36% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. This main course has 823 calories, 24g of protein, and 57g of fat per serving. This recipe serves 2. It is a rather inexpensive recipe for fans of American food. Many people made this recipe, and 197 would say it hit the spot. This recipe from Love & Lemons requires broccoli florets, unsalted butter, chives, and garlic clove. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 96%, which is awesome. 21 Day Fix Broccoli Mac & Cheese (AKA the perfect Mac & Cheese), Stovetop Pesto Mac (+ Everything I Know About Making Mac & Cheese), and Pesto Mac and Goat Cheese are very similar to this recipe.

Servings: 2

Preparation duration: 10 minutes

Cooking duration: 12 minutes

 

Ingredients:

2 cups broccoli florets, blanched

4 cups broccoli florets (reserve 2 cups for the pesto below)

sprinkle of chives

handful of fresh basil

1 garlic clove

2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 (5.5 ounce) box Annie's Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

½ cup unsweetened almond milk, or regular milk

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons pepitas (or pine nuts)

handful of toasted pepitas or pine nuts

pinches of red pepper flakes

sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Equipment:

sauce pan

bowl

food processor

colander

Cooking instruction summary:

Prepare a large saucepan of salted boiling water and a large bowl of ice water. Drop all four cups of broccoli florets into the boiling water and blanch for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until slightly tender but still vibrant green. Remove and immediately place immerse into the ice water for 1 minute, then drain.Make the pesto: In a food processor, combine 2 cups of the blanched broccoli with the pepitas, basil, and garlic. Pulse until combined. Add the lemon juice and a few generous pinches of salt and pepper and pulse again. With the blade running, add the olive oil until the pesto becomes smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside.Rinse the saucepan you used for the broccoli, fill it with fresh water, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente, stirring occasionally. Drain the pasta in a colander. While the pasta is draining, add the milk and butter to the warm saucepan. Sprinkle the cheese over the milk and stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta to the saucepan and stir well. Stir in the remaining 2 cups of blanched broccoli florets until the broccoli is warmed through. Stir in a few scoops of pesto. Serve with extra pesto and optional toppings on the side.Store extra pesto in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

 

Step by step:


1. Prepare a large saucepan of salted boiling water and a large bowl of ice water. Drop all four cups of broccoli florets into the boiling water and blanch for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until slightly tender but still vibrant green.

2. Remove and immediately place immerse into the ice water for 1 minute, then drain.Make the pesto: In a food processor, combine 2 cups of the blanched broccoli with the pepitas, basil, and garlic. Pulse until combined.

3. Add the lemon juice and a few generous pinches of salt and pepper and pulse again. With the blade running, add the olive oil until the pesto becomes smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside.Rinse the saucepan you used for the broccoli, fill it with fresh water, and bring to a boil.

4. Add the pasta and cook 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente, stirring occasionally.

5. Drain the pasta in a colander. While the pasta is draining, add the milk and butter to the warm saucepan. Sprinkle the cheese over the milk and stir to combine.

6. Add the cooked pasta to the saucepan and stir well. Stir in the remaining 2 cups of blanched broccoli florets until the broccoli is warmed through. Stir in a few scoops of pesto.

7. Serve with extra pesto and optional toppings on the side.Store extra pesto in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.


Nutrition Information:

Quickview
822k Calories
24g Protein
57g Total Fat
60g Carbs
39% Health Score
Limit These
Calories
822k
41%

Fat
57g
88%

  Saturated Fat
13g
84%

Carbohydrates
60g
20%

  Sugar
8g
9%

Cholesterol
36mg
12%

Sodium
911mg
40%

Get Enough Of These
Protein
24g
49%

Vitamin C
250mg
304%

Vitamin K
302µg
288%

Manganese
1mg
86%

Phosphorus
732mg
73%

Folate
189µg
47%

Magnesium
182mg
46%

Vitamin E
6mg
45%

Vitamin A
2264IU
45%

Potassium
1253mg
36%

Calcium
327mg
33%

Fiber
8g
33%

Iron
5mg
29%

Vitamin B6
0.55mg
28%

Vitamin B2
0.46mg
27%

Zinc
3mg
24%

Vitamin B5
1mg
20%

Copper
0.37mg
19%

Vitamin B1
0.27mg
18%

Selenium
10µg
16%

Vitamin B3
2mg
13%

Vitamin D
1µg
7%

Vitamin B12
0.3µg
5%

covered percent of daily need
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Food Trivia

Several ancient cultures viewed the apple as a feminine symbol and found a resemblance between the two halves of a vertically cut apple to the female genital system. Alternatively, an apple cut horizontally resembled a pentagram, which was considered key in revealing knowledge of good and evil.

Food Joke

Not long after their wedding, Scott and Tracy awoke early one morning. The couple had been up for quite a while before they met up in the kitchen. Marriage was agreeing with Scott, and he greeted his new wife with glee and excitation that morning. "If you'll make the toast and pour the juice, sweetheart," said Tracy, the newlywed bride, "breakfast will be ready." "Great! What are we having for breakfast?" asked Scott. "Toast and juice," replied Tracy.

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