Vegan Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe
This is the kind of weeknight pasta that feels like it belongs on a trattoria menu — deeply savory, a little bitter from the broccoli rabe, and finished with a glossy, garlicky sauce that clings to every little ear-shaped cup of pasta. The magic here is in the technique: blanching the greens in the same water you'll use to cook the pasta, then building a fragrant base of thinly sliced garlic and red pepper flakes in good olive oil. That starchy pasta water does the heavy lifting to create a silky sauce without a drop of butter or cream. Nutritional yeast steps in at the end to add a nutty, umami-rich depth that makes the dish feel complete and satisfying — no dairy required, and nothing feels like it's missing. A hit of lemon zest and juice brightens everything right before serving, cutting through the richness in the best possible way. Optional toasted pine nuts add a welcome crunch if you want to take it a step further. This one serves four and comes together in under thirty minutes, making it an easy answer to the "what's for dinner" question any night of the week.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 lb dry orecchiette
- 1 lb broccoli rabe, tough stem ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt generously — the water should taste pleasantly salty. Add the broccoli rabe and cook for 2 minutes, until the stems are just tender and the leaves are wilted and bright green. Use tongs to transfer the broccoli rabe to a colander; do not drain the pot.
- 2
Return the pot to a boil, add the orecchiette, and cook according to package directions until al dente — tender with a slight resistance at the center, typically 10–12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the pasta.
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