Description
Boursin Cheese Pasta with Broccoli brings creamy French-inspired comfort to classic Italian pasta. Silky cheese sauce coats tender broccoli and noodles, creating a quick weeknight dinner that delivers rich, garlicky flavor you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ½ pound (226 grams) malfadine pasta
- 4 cups shaved broccoli (about 1 head)
- 2 packages (5.2 ounces or 147 grams each) Boursin garlic & herb cheese
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- ½ lemon, juiced
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions, carefully setting aside of starchy pasta water for later use.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, introducing diced onions with a delicate sprinkle of salt and crushed red pepper flakes; sauté until the onions become translucent and slightly softened.
- Incorporate the shaved broccoli florets into the skillet, seasoning with an additional pinch of salt, and allow to cook for approximately 2 minutes before introducing butter and gently stirring.
- When the broccoli reaches a tender consistency, crumble the Boursin cheese into the pan and pour in roughly of reserved pasta water, creating a creamy sauce.
- Whisk the ingredients together, ensuring the cheese melts completely and integrates smoothly with the vegetables; adjust the sauce consistency by adding more pasta water if needed.
- Transfer the cooked pasta directly from the pot into the sauce, allowing the residual water to help emulsify and thin the sauce.
- Reduce heat to low and let the pasta simmer in the sauce for 1-2 minutes, allowing the noodles to absorb the flavors and finish cooking.
- Finish the dish with a bright squeeze of fresh lemon juice and an extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes for added zest and heat.
Notes
- Pasta water is liquid gold for creating a silky, creamy sauce that perfectly coats every noodle.
- Softening broccoli quickly prevents overcooking and maintains its vibrant green color and crisp texture.
- Boursin cheese melts like a dream, transforming into a luxurious sauce with minimal effort.
- Red pepper flakes add a subtle kick of heat that brightens the entire dish’s flavor profile.
- Finishing the pasta in the sauce allows the noodles to absorb maximum flavor and reach perfect al dente consistency.
- A squeeze of lemon juice at the end brings brightness and cuts through the richness of the creamy cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 435 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg