SarahMK's Notes:
Expand1 pound whole wheat penne pasta Ask a question about this ingredient
1/4 pound pancetta or thick cut bacon, cubed Ask a question about this ingredient
1 tablespoon olive oil Ask a question about this ingredient
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced thin Ask a question about this ingredient
1 large head of broccoli florets removed and cut into large bite sized pieces, stems discarded for another use Ask a question about this ingredient
Splash of dry white wine Ask a question about this ingredient
1 8 oz container creme fraiche Ask a question about this ingredient
1/4 cup shredded pecorino romano cheese Ask a question about this ingredient
Salt and freshly ground black pepper Ask a question about this ingredient
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Ask a question about this stepWhen water is at a rolling boil, add broccoli and cook for 1-2 minutes, until just slightly tender. Remove broccoli with a slotted spoon and drop into a bowl of ice water. Drain and set aside.
Ask a question about this stepAdd penne to boiling water. Cook until al dente, or soft on the outside with a very slight bite in the center. Reserve a few tablespoons of the starchy salted pasta water.
Ask a question about this stepWhile the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add pancetta and some freshly ground black pepper. After about 3 minutes, add sliced garlic.
Ask a question about this stepCook until pancetta is brown and crispy. Remove pancetta and garlic with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Ask a question about this stepWhile pan is still hot, add a splash of white wine to deglaze, scraping up any bits from the pancetta.
Ask a question about this stepAdd the container of creme fraiche and lower heat slightly. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes and add broccoli, and pancetta and garlic mix.
Ask a question about this stepSauce is ready when it coats the back of a spoon, about 6-8 minutes. Stir the sauce regularly being careful not to let it burn.
Ask a question about this stepAdd cooked pasta and about 3/4 of the cheese. If necessary, add a few tablespoons of salted pasta water to loosen the sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Ask a question about this stepServe immediately, topped with more pecorino cheese.
Ask a question about this stepGreat recipe, easy to follow and the results were really tasty. I will eat this over and over again. It is one of my new favourites now!
Andrew is an artisan chocolatier and the owner of Garrison Confections Gourmet Chocolate Shop.
Yum, yum, yum! This looks great -- straightforward, uncomplicated and very, very tasty. Looking forward to trying it soon!