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Late Winter Pasta with Mushrooms, Kale, and Sprouting Broccoli

Frances Kellar
Inspired from a pasta dish I enjoyed at Downtown Napa's Angèle, the use of poultry stock to cook the pasta is game changing move to add more flavor and craft a savory sauce that celebrates late winter veggies like leafy kale, sprouting broccoli, and wild mushrooms. Ready in 30 minutes or less, it's a dinner worthy of both an Easy Weeknight or one to savor over a glass of wine or two with loved ones.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian, American
Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups homemade or store bought low-sodium chicken/poultry stock could also use veggie stock to keep vegetarian or beef stock
  • 8 ounces dried pasta of choice think: farfalle, shells, campanelle
  • 8 ounces mixed mushrooms think: Cremini, King Trumpet, Blue Oyster, Maitake
  • 1 cup chopped sprouting broccoli
  • 2 cups chopped kale leaves stems removed (could also use spinach or chard)
  • ½ teaspoon aleppo pepper flakes or sub for crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning "pasta stock"
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried herbs de provence
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons chopped shallot
  • 5 garlic cloves minced
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • cup grated parmesan
  • To finish: toasted breadcrumbs chopped fresh herbs like parsley and chives, more grated parmesan

Instructions
 

  • For the Mise en Place: Remove woody stems from mushrooms and give them a rough chop before setting aside in a small prep bowl. Remove the stems from the sprouting broccoli and give small florets a rough chop before setting aside in a separate prep bowl. Rinse greens and remove leaves from stems. Roughly chop kale leaves and add to a separate prep bowl. Mince garlic and finely chop shallots. Portion out dried pasta shape of your choosing and fill sauce pan or large pot with the 6 cups of stock.
  • Bring 6 cups of poultry stock to a boil and salt, as needed, just as you would salt pasta water. Add in dried pasta and cook about 6-8 minutes until al dente. Use a slotted spoon to drain pasta into a large mixing bowl, reserving about ½ cup of liquid for the sauce.
  • While the pasta cooks, heat a high-rimmed sauté pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring often, to allow the garlic and shallots to begin to caramelize slightly, about 4 to 5 minutes. Keep heat to medium-low, and keep a close eye, so garlic doesn't burn. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper.
  • Add chopped mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms begin to sweat and slightly brown before adding the broccoli and kale leaves, about 5 minutes. Cook veggies for another 5 minutes then add the aleppo pepper (or crushed red pepper flakes), dried herbs de provence, and another pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper. Give the veggies another stir and taste. Adjust seasoning as you like: a touch more pepper for warmth or salt for added seasoning.
  • Add in the cooked pasta and add a couple tablespoons of reserved "pasta stock" at a time to help begin crafting the sauce (about ⅓ to ½ cup in total). Add in the butter and stir to allow the butter to melt. Add the grated parmesan and stir until cheese has melted into the sauce.
  • To plate: spoon pasta into shallow pasta bowls. Garnish with toasted breadcrumbs, chopped fresh herbs (e.g. parsley and chives), and a touch more grated parmesan.
Keyword 30 minute meals, easy dinner ideas, easy weeknights, easy pasta recipes
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