You're going to love the extra crunch and bite the parmesan croutons bring to this broccoli pasta with parmesan croutons. Post may contain affiliate links. 
Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan Croutons
I think I mentioned before that now that I am retired from teaching, I have a sourdough starter going again. Ethel. That's her name. Ethel is feisty and strong with a voracious appetite. In order to keep Ethel happy, I feed her once a week, sometimes more and in exchange Ethel gives me wonderful bread, scrumptious crumpets, and fantastic pizza dough. So, now one of my new jobs is making sure we eat up our yummy sourdough bread every week, more for us, less for Mr. Raccoon (he or she loves our stale bread).
So, while I was looking for some sort of pasta dish to use up some broccoli, I was quite pleased to stumble upon, Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan Croutons. Bread in your pasta! Not just bread, but bread roasted and toasty with parmesan cheese! 
This was so simple and every bit as good as you would imagine it would be. I'm taking the parmesan croutons and going to use them on everything! Wouldn't they be fabulous on a bowl of tomato soup? Well, any kind of soup really! One of the things I loved about this recipe is that it is truly one pot! The broccoli cooks along with the pasta and then after draining the pasta/broccoli, you use the same pot to saute the garlic and toss the pasta! Genius!
Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan Croutons
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread cubed
- ¼ cup olive oil divided
- ¼ cup parmesan grated, plus more for serving
- Salt and pepper
- ¾ pound pasta shells
- 3 cups broccoli cut into a small dice
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400. On a baking sheet, toss the bread with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the parmesan cheese and salt a pepper. Roast until golden about 8-10 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, but when there is 2 minutes left on the time, add the broccoli. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water and then drain.
- Add the rest of the olive oil and the garlic to the pot. Cook until the garlic is fragrant - about 2-3 minutes. Add the broccoli and pasta to the pot. Toss with the reserved pasta water to create a light sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with a sprinkling of lemon zest, the croutons and addition parmesan cheese.
Kimberly says
This looks so amazing! Yum! Pinned. Thank you for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. We love partying with you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Tash says
I once read a good quote, and I feel like it's appropriate as one enjoys bread with pasta...
"When in doubt, ingest carbs" = life motto.
Looks great by the way!
Pam Greer says
Oh my, that's my motto too!
Mary says
This looks so yummy. I'm all about some carbs so the bread and pasta are right up my alley! Thanks for sharing at DDT.
Ginnie says
This looks like a carb lover's dream:) Thanks for sharing!
Pam Greer says
Yes it was!
Joybee says
This sounds delicious. Broccoli is my favorite vegetable so I'll have to try it. I bet making a white wine sauce for the pasta would be great too. I love that croutons are added too. I make my own bread too and homemade bread gets stale pretty quick so it's a struggle to use it all before it goes bad. I used to make croutons with it all the time but I got lazy...now I have a great recipe to use them in.
Pam Greer says
It is a challenge to use up all that bread! And this is a great way to do it!
Lesa Walker says
This pasta dish looks delicious! I found your recipe on the Delicious Dish Tuesday link up. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to try this recipe! Looks simple to prepare and delicious!
Pam Greer says
It is simple and delicious! Thank you for stopping by!
Pure Grace Farms says
Your recipe looks fabulous. Would be honored if you would stop by and share at Foodie Fridays this week. The party starts on Thursday 9 pm EST. Hope to see you there. (coming from Hearth and Soul)
Blessings,
Shari
Amy @Very Culinary says
I think I just fell in love with you a little bit more knowing you named your sourdough starter.
Marjie says
You probably are not shocked to learn that this fussbudget is not a fan of croutons (who would want hard bread in their salad, so it can get soggy, is my feeling), but I'm betting my menfolk would just love this. And I'm glad that Ethel is keeping you busy!
grace says
since pasta isn't my favorite, i really like that you've included so much broccoli and so many croutons! great plate!
Pam Greer says
Pasta is very much my thing, but I do like the ration here!
Joanne says
Well being a bread consumer is a tough job, but someone has to do it!! Love these chunky croutons...they make all things better.
Pam Greer says
I know, I just keep inventing jobs for myself 🙂