Broccoli with Garlic & Chile, Puglian Style

broccoli with orecchiette pasta is a very popular dish in puglia, italy.  i reimagined the recipe by eliminating the pasta and bulking up on the broccoli.  easy, delicious, spicy with a strong garlic bite; you can serve as a side dish, top pizza, stir into scrambled eggs or....forget the reimagining part and toss with cooked pasta. 

i like to keep a bit of stem attached to the broccoli florets...about 1/2-3/4 inch.  this will mean you have to cook the broccoli a bit longer, but don't overcook.  it should be al dente (to the tooth) with a bit of resistance...like when you cook pasta.  if you add to other dishes like pizza you may want to chop the broccoli into smaller pieces after cooking.

Broccoli with Garlic & Chile, Puglian Style
1-2 heads broccoli (about 1 lb total), cut into florets with about 1/2 inch of stem attached
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
6 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1-2 tsp red pepper flakes, divided
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
freshly shredded parmigiano reggiano cheese for topping (optional)

fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. add a handful of salt and the broccoli florets. cook for 7-10 minutes – or until a sharp knife can easily pierce a broccoli stalk. remove from pot with a spider strainer and set aside in medium bowl.

while broccoli is cooking, add 1 tbsp olive oil to large skillet.  add garlic and stir for 1 minute.  do not let garlic burn.  add cooked broccoli to skillet.  add remaining olive oil, 1 tsp red pepper flakes and a pinch each salt and pepper.  toss until broccoli is coated and cook for an additional 2 minutes.  taste and add additional red pepper flakes if you want a spicier dish.  adjust seasonings if needed.  serve with cheese if  desired.

it is broccoli week at food network's fall fest. check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends:

Jeanette's Healthy Living: Easy Stir-Fry Broccoli and Red Bell Peppers
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Pasta With Fresh Broccoli and Spicy Cashew Pesto
Red or Green?: Broccoli With Garlic and Chile, Puglian-Style HGTV Gardens: Garden-to-Table: Broccoli
Virtually Homemade: Broccolini With Walnuts and Sweet Soy Sauce
Thursday Night Dinner: Soy, Sesame and Ginger Broccoli
FN Dish: Six Broccoli Mains

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california girl in taos
napa farmhouse 1885