Description
Boursin Cheese Pasta with Broccoli: Creamy pasta with garlic and herb Boursin cheese sauce, tossed with tender broccoli florets. Comforting and flavorful!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, farfalle, or fusilli work best)
- 5 cups (340g) fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 packages (5.2 oz/150g each) Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup (240ml) reserved pasta water
- ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Pasta Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. The water should taste like the sea – this seasons the pasta from the inside out. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 8-10 minutes), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. About 3 minutes before the pasta is done, get ready to add your broccoli.
- Step 2: Cook the Broccoli Add the broccoli florets directly to the boiling pasta water about 2-3 minutes before the pasta is finished cooking. This perfectly times the broccoli to be tender-crisp just as the pasta reaches al dente. Before draining, carefully reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water – this is essential for creating your sauce. Drain the pasta and broccoli together in a colander.
- Step 3: Create the Sauce Base Return the empty pot to the stove over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil and minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Add red pepper flakes if using, then remove the pot from heat. This brief cooking infuses the oil with garlic flavor without risking burnt garlic, which would impart bitterness.
- Step 4: Combine and Create the Sauce Return the drained pasta and broccoli to the pot with the garlic oil. Immediately add the Boursin cheese in chunks and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir gently but continuously until the cheese melts completely and coats the pasta. Add more pasta water, a splash at a time, until you reach your desired sauce consistency – creamy enough to coat the pasta but not watery.
- Step 5: Finish and Serve Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan and continue gently tossing until incorporated. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and add the fresh lemon juice if using – it brightens the richness of the dish. Serve immediately in warmed bowls, garnished with additional Parmesan and cracked black pepper if desired. Your Boursin Cheese Pasta with Broccoli is now ready to be devoured!
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups per serving
- Calories: 415 calories per serving
- Sugar: 2.5 grams
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 grams
- Saturated Fat: 9 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 40 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 15 grams
- Cholesterol: 36 mg