Penne Pasta Salad with Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano

A high-quality, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is essential to this recipe's success: the bold, salty flavor curbs the need for extra fat or seasoning. The salad also makes a quick weeknight meal when served hot. Serves 6.


Ingredient List:

• 6 oz. penne rigate pasta
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 9 cloves garlic, minced (3 Tbs.)
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/2 red jalapeño chile, seeded and chopped (1 Tbs.)
• 10 fresh red or yellow grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 oz. shaved or crumbled Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water 8 minutes. Add broccoli, and cook 1 minute more. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water.
2. Return pot to stove, and heat oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic in oil 1 minute. Add jalapeño, and cook 30 seconds. Stir in pasta mixture, tomatoes, and reserved cooking water. Transfer to large serving bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cool to room temperature, and top with cheese.

Vegetarian Times Issue: July 1, 2009 p.48

Roasted Broccolini with Balsamic Vinegar

Ingredients
2 bunches (about 8 oz. each) broccolini
1 tablespoon olive oil
kosher salt to taste
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Cooking Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Trim the stem ends of the broccolini and spread the spears on a baking sheet. Brush them with olive oil (especially the flowering part) and sprinkle with salt.
3. Roast the broccolini on the top rack of the oven until the stems become tender when pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes.
4. Toss the broccolini with the balsamic vinegar and serve.

This recipe serves: 6 | Preparation time: 5 minutes | Cooking time: 10 minutes

Roasted Broccolini with Balsamic Vinegar: Recipe by FoodFit

Vegetable Fried Rice with Tofu

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup celery, sliced on an angle
1 bunch green onions, trimmed and sliced into 1/2' pieces
1/2 cup broccoli florettes
1 pound firm tofu, drained and crumbled
2 tablespoons toasted Sesame Oil
2 tablespoons Tamari [or Soy Sauce]

*Tamari: Originally it referred to a liquid byproduct of miso making. Today known as wheat free soy sauce, tamari is made by fermenting soybeans and salt for at least one year. The resulting liquid has a rich sweet and salty flavor central to Asian cuisine. Due to its robust character tamari is useful in giving vegetarian dishes a meaty flavor.

Directions:
Sauté carrots, celery, onion, and broccoli in the Sesame Oil for 5 minutes. Add the tofu and rice. Cook until the rice is well coated with the oil and vegetables are tender. Add in the scallions and season with the Tamari to taste.

Servings: 4 | Cooking Time: 30 minutes - one hour
Author: Polly Pitchford, Full Spectrum Health™

Pasta Salad with Broccoli and Peanuts

Ingredients:
Coarse salt
½ pound whole-wheat fusilli
2 heads (2 pounds) broccoli
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
¼ cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced crosswise (1 cup)
½ cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain, and rinse under cold water; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, trim 1 inch from the stem end of broccoli stalks. Using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, peel outer layer of stalks; thinly slice crosswise. Separate florets into bite-size pieces.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium.Add pepper flakes, broccoli, and ¾ cup water; cover and cook until broccoli is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid has evaporated and broccoli is tender, 2 to 4 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, peanut butter, and soy sauce until smooth. Add cooled pasta, broccoli, scallions, and peanuts; toss to combine. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Everyday Food | Pasta Salad with Broccoli and Peanuts
Serves 4 | Prep time: 35 minutes | Total time: 35 minutes