creamy pasta w broccoli & spinach

creamy pasta w broccoli & spinach

creamy pasta with broccoli & spinach. fast. easy. delicious. this is no april fool's joke. the lemon zest adds the yum factor. spring has sprung!

you’ll need:

8oz pasta (i used whole wheat macaroni)
1 bunch broccoli
1 bunch fresh spinach
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup parm cheese
1 clove garlic, pressed
red pepper flakes
lemon zest (about ½ a lemon)
salt

you’ll do:

start a large pot of water to boil. when water comes to a boil add a handful of kosher salt.

prepare a large bowl with salted iced water to cool off broccoli & spinach.

cut broccoli into bite size florets. blanch broccoli for 3 minutes then transfer to iced water.

remove broccoli with your hand to a bowl - drain off excess water.

blanch spinach for 1 minute, then transfer to iced water.

add pasta to boiling water. yes, the water can be used 3 times.

in a food processor: add parm cheese, pressed garlic clove, lemon zest, butter, olive oil, red pepper flakes and the cream. whiz. taste & salt.

drain pasta and add back to large pot along with broccoli on low heat. add cream mixture and stir. grab a handful of spinach from iced bath and squeeze to remove excess water. add spinach to food processor and whiz. add spinach to pasta & stir. heat thru & eat!