Friday, January 18, 2013

Healthy Spaghetti Aglio E Olio with Broccoli


Ingredients:

2-4 garlic cloves 

1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
 
2 tablespoons parsley 

5 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
 
Salt
 
1 pound thin spaghetti 

12 ounces frozen broccoli
 
Parmesan cheese
 
1 cup merlot 
Directions: 

1. Chop/crush parsley until fine, and chop the red pepper to allow for more flavor to permeate the  Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Combine in a small ceramic bowl. 

2. Crush the garlic, add to the parsley and red pepper in the small bowl, then add the  Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

3. Bring plenty of water to a rolling boil, then add frozen broccoli. When brought to boil again, add spaghetti. Season with salt to taste. Cook spaghetti until al dente with the frozen broccoli. 

4. While the spaghetti is cooking, heat the parsley, red pepper, garlic, and  Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a microwave oven for about 90 seconds. (Be careful not to brown the garlic.) 

5. Scoop out about 1/2 cup of the water in which the spaghetti and broccoli are cooking, and then drain the broccoli and spaghetti. Put spaghetti and broccoli in serving dish, pour the 1/2 cup of cooking water over the spaghetti, then add the  Extra Virgin Olive Oil mixture, tossing sufficiently to cover the pasta. 

6. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top to taste and serve. Additional parsley may be sprinkled on top as a garnish. 

6. The merlot may be added to the cook at any time! 

Almost any kind of pasta can be used; the type you select will affect the ratio of pasta taste to seasonings taste. The broccoli adds a sweet taste to the dish, and the sweet taste combines well with the red pepper. If you love garlic, add more! If you want less spice, use 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper. Easy to prepare? You bet! Five easy steps (well, six, if you count the wine), all using ordinary ingredients AND stuff you have around the kitchen. Nutritious? OMG! Let's start with the Extra Virgin Olive Oil! Olive oil is great for your bones, protects you from "silent strokes," heart disease, and high blood-sugar levels, and can reduce your chance of developing respiratory and digestive-system cancers AND reduce a woman's risk for breast cancer by 38 percent! The broccoli, parsley and garlic are loaded with fiber, potassium, protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and c! All with NO cholesterol! What's not to like about spaghetti aglio e olio with broccoli? 

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