Broccoli Lemon Pasta for One: Add Vegetables in the Last 3 Minutes

Before cooking for one

Cooking just for yourself? Start with these amounts from the recipe's one-serving column. Check the full ingredient list below for the remaining ingredients and seasonings.

• Spaghetti: 1 bundle (package indicates 1 serving)
• Broccoli: 0.25 of a head (medium size)
• Garlic: 1 clove

Follow the recipe's preparation and cooking steps after measuring; package size is not the amount to use.

For example, if the package calls for 8 minutes, cook the pasta alone for 5 minutes, then add the broccoli and cook for 3 more minutes. Recalculate the initial cooking time if the package specifies a different total. Cut the florets to 3 cm and the peeled, firm outer layer of the stems to 5 mm so they cook evenly. Do not use this sequence unchanged with a quick-cooking pasta product.

Ingredients for 1 serving

• Spaghetti: 1 bundle (package indicates 1 serving)
• Broccoli: 1/4 of a head (medium size)
• Garlic: 1 clove
• Olive oil: 1 household eating spoon
• Lemon juice: 1/2 household eating spoon
• Salt: 2 pinches

The quantities are based on the recipe's ingredient list for 1 serving in the app. Household eating spoons and pinches are everyday measures and have not been converted to exact grams or milliliters. Check the package size and cup capacity shown in parentheses as well.

Method

• Step 1. Wash the broccoli and set aside the quantity listed in the ingredients. Separate the small florets into pieces 3 cm across. Peel the firm outer layer from the stems and slice them 5 mm thick. Finely chop the garlic.
• Step 2. Bring enough water to cover the pasta to a boil in a pot, then add the spaghetti. Loosen it with tongs for the first 1 minute. Cook it for 3 minutes less than the package's stated cooking time. For a product with a cooking time of 8 minutes, cook it for 5 minutes at this stage.
• Step 3. Add the prepared broccoli to the pot with the boiling pasta and cook for 3 more minutes. When the pasta has no hard center and the stems are easily pierced with a fork, reserve 2 household eating spoons of pasta water for each 1 serving, then drain in a colander.
• Step 4. Put the olive oil and chopped garlic in an empty pan and stir over low heat for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat before the garlic turns brown. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli, reserved pasta water, lemon juice, and salt, then toss evenly with tongs.
• Step 5. Arrange the pasta in a low mound in the center of a small plate and distribute the broccoli evenly over it. Serve warm.

When to Add the Lemon Juice

Put the oil and chopped garlic in a pan and stir over low heat for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat before the garlic turns brown. Then mix in the cooked pasta and broccoli, reserved pasta water, lemon juice, and salt. This is not a sauce that is simmered down with lemon juice, so turning the pan back on is not part of the basic method.

Reserve Only Two Spoons of Pasta Water

For this recipe, reserve two household eating spoons of pasta water per 1 serving. Do not use the same amount of pasta water as you would for another pasta dish. Scoop it out before draining, and check both that the pasta has no hard center and the condition of the broccoli stems. Plate the pasta in a low mound and finish by spreading the vegetables around so they do not all collect on one side.

Keep Cooking with Kkinion

Visit Open the broccoli lemon pasta recipe to see the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. If you change the number of servings, check the quantities displayed in the app again.

This guide was prepared by the editorial team based on a recipe published on Kkinion, with the cooking flow and points to check explained in detail. It is not a personal cooking or tasting review, nor an article verifying nutritional effects. The cover image is an AI-generated cooking example used in the app and may differ from the actual cooked dish.

Make It Yourself with a Kkinion Recipe

Below are all the ingredients and cooking steps for “Broccoli Lemon Pasta.” First choose the quantity for the number of servings, then follow the preparation and cooking instructions at each step.

Recipe Ingredients

Broccoli Lemon Pasta · Estimated time: 20 minutes · Equipment: pot, pan, colander, tongs

Choose one of the two quantities below to match the number of people you are cooking for.

• Spaghetti: 1 serving 1 bundle (package indicates 1 serving) / 2 servings 2 bundles (package indicates 1 serving)
• Broccoli: 1 serving 0.25 of a head (medium size) / 2 servings 0.5 of a head (medium size)
• Garlic: 1 serving 1 clove / 2 servings 2 cloves
• Olive oil: 1 serving 1 household eating spoon / 2 servings 2 household eating spoons
• Lemon juice: 1 serving 0.5 household eating spoon / 2 servings 1 household eating spoon
• Salt: 1 serving 2 pinches / 2 servings 4 pinches

Full Cooking Instructions

Step 1. Wash the broccoli and set aside the quantity below. Separate the small florets into pieces 3 cm across. Peel the firm outer layer from the stems and slice them 5 mm thick. Finely chop the garlic.

What to check: The quantities below are for the serving size you selected. The photo shows a 1-serving example of how to prepare the ingredients. One of the pieces made by cutting a medium head into 4 equal parts is ¼ of a head.

Step 2. Bring enough water to cover the pasta to a boil in a pot, then add the spaghetti. Loosen it with tongs for the first 1 minute. Cook it for 3 minutes less than the package's stated cooking time. For a product with a cooking time of 8 minutes, cook it for 5 minutes at this stage.

What to check: If the package does not indicate 1 serving, use one bundle made by dividing a 400 g package of dried pasta into 5 equal parts. Dividing a 500 g package into 6 equal parts gives a similar amount. Nutritional information is based on approximately 80 g of dried pasta. For 1–2 servings, use 1 L of water ( 500 mL water bottle 2 bottle) and for 3–4 servings, use 2 L of water and a pot with a capacity of at least 4 L. For thin pasta with a cooking time of 3 minutes or less, blanch the broccoli first for 3 minutes and remove it, then cook the pasta for the time stated on the package. For regular pasta, cook the broccoli for 3 more minutes in the next step.

Step 3. Add the prepared broccoli to the pot with the boiling pasta and cook for 3 more minutes. When the pasta has no hard center and the stems are easily pierced with a fork, reserve 2 household eating spoons of pasta water for each 1 serving, then drain in a colander.

What to check: If the pasta is cooked but the broccoli is still firm, remove the pasta first and cook the vegetables for another 30 seconds at a time. If you blanched the broccoli in advance because you are using thin pasta, do not cook it further; just reserve the pasta water.

Step 4. Put the olive oil and chopped garlic in an empty pan and stir over low heat for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat before the garlic turns brown. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli, reserved pasta water, lemon juice, and salt, then toss evenly with tongs.

What to check: Measure using the same household eating spoon. Do not fill it so full that liquids spill over, and do not heap up thick ingredients. Add the lemon juice after turning off the heat. A pinch is the amount lightly held between the tips of your thumb and index finger.

Step 5. Arrange the pasta in a low mound in the center of a small plate and distribute the broccoli evenly over it. Serve warm.

What to check: This step is for plating the dish prepared earlier. Do not add any more ingredients.

Check the broccoli lemon pasta ingredients and cooking steps

The images in the main text are newly generated AI images based on the Kkinion recipe linked to this article. The main image is also an AI-generated example. These are not photos of actual cooking or tasting, and the quantities or finished appearance may differ.

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