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Tortellini with a Butter, Garlic, Onion and Broccoli Sauce

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tortellini with a butter, garlic, onion and broccoli sauce

When you want a quick meal, this tortellini with a butter, garlic, onion and broccoli sauce is my to-to dish, especially when I have leftover broccoli.  Why leftover?  The sauce is made from cooking garlic and onions in butter and tossing in cooked broccoli and cooking that down until it breaks up.  Using a potato masher, pulverize the broccoli until it blends with the butter for a garlicky sauce.  The first time I had this sauce it was over gnocchi but now I put it on anything.  I could eat just the sauce, to be honest.  Okay, it doesn’t photograph beautifully and I apologize for that.  It’s still worth keeping some in the kitchen so you can eat it while you’re doing the dishes.

I woke up early this morning and watched the sunrise, knowing it was going to be a good day.  The dog hadn’t pooped under the dining room table, the cat didn’t sleep on my black shirt and I figured that was a win just for waking up.  I decided we needed an excursion to Costco to get the turkey. Oh, ye who prepare ahead, I bow before thee.  We had a lovely 45 minute drive down to North Lakes and once inside Costco I touched everything.  I could have been in a Costco anywhere in the states.  Nobody but me had an American accent, however.

broccoli, butter and garlic sauce

Let’s cut to the chase.  Costco had NO turkeys. No fresh ones, no frozen one.  Not even bits of a turkey.  So I bought a ham for Christmas lunch and a bunch of other things I really didn’t need and came home.  I bought my turkey at the supermarket because my regular butcher didn’t have any either.  “Maureen, you usually pre-order, what happened this year?”   I just rolled my eyes, said thanks and left.  Next year I’ll pre-order.  I’ll write it on the white board.

I believe I’m standing in the way of your future love affair with this broccoli sauce.

Tortellini with Broccoli Sauce

5.0 from 8 reviews
Tortellini with a Butter, Garlic, Onion and Broccoli Sauce
 
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If you've got leftover broccoli you're only minutes away from a delightful pasta sauce.
Author:
Recipe type: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 package fresh tortellini (from the supermarket or make your own)
Sauce
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup leftover cooked broccoli
  • salt and pepper to taste (start with ¼ teaspoon of salt and ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper)
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (with extra for garnish)
Instructions
  1. Cook tortellini according to package - do not overcook.
Sauce
  1. If the broccoli is still crunchy, steam it for a few minutes until it's soft.
  2. In a skilled on medium heat, add the butter. When it's nearly all melted, add the onion and the garlic and stir until the onion is cooked but not browned. Turn the heat down if it looks like it's browning.
  3. When the onion is soft, add the broccoli and stir to combine. Cook until the broccoli begins to break down and then using a potato masher, finish the job.
  4. Add salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese and toss in the cooked tortellini.
  5. Serve with grated Parmesan on top.
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Comments

  5. I rarely have leftover broccoli but this pesto-like sauce sounds like a great way to dress pasta.

    I try to avoid going to Costco as I have a habit of spending too much money when I go there though last time I restrained myself admirably. I stopped in to pick up my blood pressure medication and came out with a year’s supply of vitamins in a giant bottle and toothpaste. Luckily I avoided 99% of the store … what I picked up was passed on a straight line from the front entrance to the pharmacy. I DID pass the electronics and candy so that’s pretty surprising. I shudder to think what I would have come out with if my route had been any longer.

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  11. This sauce does sound great – nothing better than garlic and butter! I do love how you say you can buy the tortellini or make your own – I have made tortellini but only once and even though it was the best ever, once was enough. I’m sorry to hear of your turkey woes. I hope you can find one. There are plenty in the shops here in Sydney! xx

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    • I got a turkey at the supermarket. he’s thawing in the fridge as we speak. I just wanted one from Costco to see what they’re like. I love their hams.

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  14. This looks so very similiar to a dish my father used to make. He loved his pasta and would use leftover broccolli, cooked till it was so very soft, and create a sauce that looked like this. I have no idea what he put in it, most likely no butter but olive oil, but I think following yours will get me pretty close!

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  15. Love the recipe, Maureen, I can almost smell it from here… how odd that Costco didn’t have turkey for you! And annoying!!! We went yesterday to grab a few cleaning things… I saw the biggest freaking marshmallows ever!

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  17. oh aren’t you clever!! I always have leftover broccoli, my husband never eats it but I always make enough for him as if maybe he will decide to try it someday 🙂

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  18. I always buy a bunch of stuff I don’t need when I go to Costco. So I try to limit my trips. As if that works! 😉 Anyway, really like this sauce! I can totally taste it — broccoli and garlic pair so well as it is, and I like the way the broccoli breaks down as it cooks in this dish. Really good — thanks.

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  19. I do a very similar sauce using cauliflower, you’d swear it was fettuccini sauce, it’s that good! I am going to try your broccoli version, there ain’t nothing wrong with having more than one sauce in your repertoire. We used ours as the base for our white pizza, OMG it was good!

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  20. Yum! I’m with you, I would eat all of that right out of the pan and with out any pasta. I love imagining how big your white board must be and how many details must reside there. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  21. How strange there was no turkey to be had in Costco. At least you’re ahead for Christmas with your ham though.
    Love recipes like this – I just know how tasty it will be already – although I’ll need more than 2 tbsp of parmesan for garnish as I tend to load up on the stuff!

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  22. Oh how I love this idea!! Pulverizing the broccoli – very clever! And I’m always looking for healthy, quick and easy pasta dishes. Thanks Maureen!

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  27. Love this! My son and daughter would lick their plate clean and never be the wiser about the broccoli in the sauce. 🙂 Have a wonderful, safe and extra delicious Thanksgiving friend!!! 🙂

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  28. My homemade sauces are usually the same few just on rotation lol…..this sounds amazing!! Definitely need to add this to my pasta repertoire!

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  32. We have leftover broccoli in the fridge nearly once a week so this will be added to my list of quick, weeknight recipes to try! Glad you finally found a turkey…hope you have a marvelous Thanksgiving!!!

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  34. Maureen, I was out looking for a turkey yesterday too. I did find one. The fellow said, let me look and see if I can find one in the back and came out with the turkey to save the holiday. Happy ending.
    This certainly looks good. I would enjoy it off the spoon too.
    Have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday. xo Catherine

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  35. I woke up this morning not knowing what I wanted to eat for my birthday. Now, thanks to your luscious pasta post, I know. 🙂 I’m heading for the best Italian restaurant I can find. 🙂 XO We just got four turkeys of our own to raise so I never need to worry about finding a turkey for Canadian and American Thanksgivings. 🙂 So excited about that. 🙂

    Reply

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