Paris may be the most romantic city on the planet but a few years ago I managed to get a most unromantic bout of vicious food poisoning while there on a – you guessed it – romantic weekend. I will spare you the horrific details but let’s just say that I emerged on a Sunday morning kitten-weak and slightly shell shocked. Determined not to let the events of the night before ruin our last day we stumbled into a wine bar/restaurant. My husband (who had escaped unscathed) ordered a full meal but I pathetically asked for the most basic thing I could handle – plain pasta.
The restaurant owner was most sympathetic and the plain pasta I ordered ended up being an incredibly delicious plate of spaghetti tossed with butter, herbs and a little garlic. To this day whenever I feel under the weather or in need of comfort I remember that dish. Luckily you don’t have to be recovering from anything in order to enjoy a plate of carb heaven – and it is an incredibly easy and quick meal to throw together.
This time I decided to use the purple sprouting broccoli my neighbour brought over from his garden and the black garlic Sainsbury’s had sent me. Basically an aged white garlic that has a much more mellow, molasses-balsamic flavour it adds a sweet/savoury edge to sauces and is highly addictive! You can make this dish with fresh garlic instead – it will have a slightly different, but no less delicious, taste. You can use any spring vegetables instead of the sprouting broccoli – asparagus and peas being ideal replacements. Just make sure not to overcook the vegetables – plunging them in cold water after cooking will help them keep their bright green colour.
Since we moved into the new kitchen I have fallen in love with my Tefal Ingenio set all over again – had to shelve them temporarily while cooking on a portable induction hob. Now I have thrown out all my old pots (such a relief!) and am just using the Ingenio set and a couple of specialist pots and pans. Tefal are offering one very lucky Supergolden Bakes reader the chance to win an amazing 13-piece Tefal Ingenio Induction set worth £250. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for details on how to enter this fab giveaway.
Spring pasta with sprouting broccoli and black garlic
Serves 2 generously
400g | 14oz orecchiette (or pasta shapes of your choice)
200g | 7oz purple sprouting broccoli
60g | 2oz grated Parmesan & more to sprinkle over the dish
3-4 tbsp double cream
2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, very finely chopped
1 tbsp unsalted butter
splash virgin olive oil
2 cloves black garlic, sliced thinly
squeeze of lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method
- Bring a pot of water to the boil and add 1/2 tsp salt. Cook the broccoli until al dente – 3-4 minutes – drain and plunge into cold water. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Rinse and drain then set aside.
- Heat a little butter and splash of olive oil in the same pot you used for the pasta. Add the Parmesan, cream, parsley, garlic and lemon juice and stir for a couple of minutes.
- Add the broccoli and pasta and stir to coat. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with a little extra Parmesan coarsely grated over the top.
Disclaimer: I was asked by Sainsbury’s to create a recipe using black garlic and was compensated for the cost of the ingredients.
Win a 13-piece Ingenio set worth £180
> One winner will receive a 13-piece Tefal Ingenio Induction set worth £250. The complete set comprises of: 16 and 20cm saucepans; 22 and 28cm frying pans; a 26cm sauté pan, 26cm wok; 16, 20 and 26cm glass lids; 16 and 20cm plastic lids; two bakelite handles.
JULIE WHITTAKER says
Lovely!! Fingers crossed!!
jrandrews72 says
Looks really good.
Karis says
Looks delicious.
Janet says
Quality Prize x
Eloise says
dish sounds good and prize is fab
Sandra Cloud says
Lovely Jubbly
rah louise says
Lovely prize. scrummy stuff!!
Chloe Ellis says
Would love this!
Kelly Hirst says
That looks delicious! I'm definitely going to give it a try
angie mummy says
Lovely prize
Laura Vitty says
Yum! Thanks for the awesome competition 🙂
Herbert Appleby says
Cool prize.. thank you
Farhana says
Looks delish! Thanks for the recipe
James says
Great prize
jane chadwick says
this would be wonderful we have a small kitchen so these would really help thanks for the chance
Anonymous says
Fabulous
George Williamson
Jamie Millard says
SOME AMAZING IDEAS.
Julie Venner Beard says
Great prize!
Claire Nelson says
Thank you!
Claire York says
Looks very healthy would love to try it!!