Broccoli Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 head broccoli (large, cut into small florets)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 12 ounces pasta (such as penne)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)

Instructions 

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the broccoli and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer cooked broccoli to a bowl. Reserve ½ cup of broccoli water.
• Add the olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, cooked broccoli and the reserved broccoli water to the skillet and cook for 10 minutes until you can easily mash the broccoli with a spoon.
• In the same pot with broccoli water add the pasta and cook until al dente.
• Drain the pasta and add to the skillet with the broccoli mash along with the parmesan cheese. Stir everything together and add more pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper as needed and serve garnished with additional parmesan cheese.