I like to try to incorporate more meatless meals into our week. Meatless meals are usually pretty quick to make. That is especially good when you have a busy schedule and want to eat healthy. I’ve always done at least one, so my meat and potatoes guys are kinda use to it. However, it never fails that everyone will sit down for dinner, look at the food and someone will ask where’s the meat. I used this as an opportunity to tell everyone I was going to start making more meatless meals. My son likes when the day of the week goes along with the food you eat. He likes to think you should have tacos on Tuesdays, Fish on Friday, and he will deal with a meatless Monday meal. I could see him thinking and then he says with a serious face, “but there is only one “M” day during the week… so sorry Mom, no can do.” That kid is funny 😀
Broccolini
Broccoli, broccolini, broccoli rabe…I’ll take them all. We all know what broccoli looks like, but it is a little confusing when it comes to broccolini and broccoli rabe because they look very similar. Rabe has more leafy greens and is slightly more bitter. Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and chinese kale. Broccolini is a trademarked name, so you will see other companies variation is labeled baby broccoli or asparation. It is slightly sweet and milder than regular broccoli. Nutritionally, they are all very similar, so you can’t go wrong picking one or the other 🙂
Broccolini is a great source of calcium, vitamin C and A.
Broccolini Nutrition
(7 pieces)
Calories 35
Fiber 1 g
Protein 3 g
Vitamin C 117 mg
Vitamin A 28 IU
Calcium 42 mg
I like to use vegetable broth in this dish. I think it adds a lot of flavor without having to use salt. You can easily substitute chicken broth, but taste the sauce to be sure the seasoning is to your liking.
- 8 oz orecchiette pasta
- 1 bunch broccolini, rinsed and trimmed
- 1 tsp olive oil
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, pressed
- 1 can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Heat olive oil to medium sauté pan. Add onions and garlic, sauté until fragrant.
- Stir in beans and basil, toss to coat. Add in vegetable broth and black pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Add in broccolini and cook for another 2 minutes. Broccolini should be bright green and still crunchy.
- Serve Broccolini mixture on top of orecchiette.
- Top with shredded parmesan cheese.
Everyone loved this dish, even my meat eaters. This is one of my favorite meals, it’s an all in one meal…pasta, vegetable and protein. The broccolini provides a nice crispness to compliment the beans and pasta. I love how orecchiette holds the sauce in its little cup. 😀
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Source:
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/11_09/rsfp.pdf