Upgrade Your Pasta Broccoli Recipes with Tenderstem®

If we had to choose one ingredient that works perfectly with Tenderstem® broccoli, it would have to be pasta.

Like Tenderstem®, pasta is quick to cook, so you can have a midweek meal ready in minutes. And when it’s all wrapped up in a silky, rich sauce, you want that little crunch and nutty flavour that only Tenderstem® can provide.

Browse All of our Pasta Recipes

Why does Tenderstem® broccoli and Pasta work so Well Together?

Tenderstem®’s crunch provides a contrasting texture to pasta, which is why the two ingredients work so well together. Not only that, but Tenderstem®’s unique flavour is perfect for a creamy, cheesy pasta sauce (such as this delicious recipe for spaghetti), and Tenderstem®'s rich green colour never fails to bring a meal to life.

Pasta and broccoli recipes are such a favourite because of pasta's versatility. From a light summer pasta salad with Tenderstem® broccoli to a hearty lasagna or pasta stew, it’s easy to cook up a delicious meal with pasta and broccoli all year round.

Interestingly, according to Harold McGee in his book On Food and Cooking, broccoli first arose in Italy, so it makes sense that the Italians found a use for it alongside their national dish of pasta. And using Tenderstem® is a tasty and healthy upgrade from broccoli. Japanese scientists took the best parts of broccoli and Chinese kale and naturally fused them together using classical plant-breeding techniques to make the Tenderstem® we love today.

What is the best Type of Pasta to cook with Tenderstem® Broccoli?

Traditionally, certain types of pasta are always served up with a particular sauce. While there is an almost endless amount of pasta shapes, these can generally be categorised under four main types of pasta:

  • Long, thin pasta such as spaghetti or tagliatelle often work best in creamy or seafood sauces
  • Shell and tube shaped pasta such as penne, rigatoni and orecchiette is perfect for serving with a thick, tomato sauce in which it can scoop up all the flavour and chunky bits of vegetables or meat
  • Twist shaped pasta such as fusilli is ideal for serving with thinner sauces such as a pesto that will cling to every inch of pasta
  • Filled pasta such as tortellini and ravioli are traditionally served with a fairly plain butter or oil sauce to intensify the flavour of the filling

But what is the best type of pasta for Tenderstem® broccoli?

Fortunately, Tenderstem® is versatile enough to be paired up with most types of pasta. You can pair it with spaghetti or tagliatelle in a rich creamy sauce, chopped up in a thick tomato sauce served with penne or as a topping on a green pesto and fusilli recipe.

If you wanted to fill tortellini or ravioli shapes with Tenderstem® broccoli, you could blend the Tenderstem® spears as part of the filling and keep the delicate florets for serving alongside the pasta which will help make the dish look great too.

How to Cook Tenderstem® Broccoli for Pasta?

Can You Use Frozen Tenderstem® Broccoli in Pasta Recipes?

Yes, you can use frozen broccoli in any pasta recipe if you don't have it fresh. Frozen broccoli is especially good for stews and soups. It's always worth having some Frozen Tenderstem® in your freezer just in case! Click here for tips on how to cook Tenderstem broccoli® from frozen.

Best Pasta Broccoli Recipes Using Tenderstem®

Here’s a selection of our favourite broccoli pasta recipes using Tenderstem® and a variety of pasta shapes.

Browse All Broccoli Pasta Recipes