There are so many good Weight Watcher’s recipes available and this is my third recipe where pasta and broccoli are combined in a “healthy” sauce. Pasta + broccoli + cheese sauce – yes I do like this trio together! I have been using a new pasta called Cavatappi that I like a lot as it captures more of the sauce in a recipe. It is a macaroni formed in a curly, spiral tube shape, like a corkscrew and it has grooves on the outside surface. This new recipe uses evaporated milk with parmesan/cheddar and lots of garlic that is softened in boiling water until soft and then minced. I almost roasted the garlic instead (more calories because of the oil) but decided to try cooking the garlic this way and it was good! As always I have adapted this recipe by Weight Watcher’s with 9 points per serving.
I also have a baked version and another one which also includes chicken; both are Weight Watcher’s. I like to provide “links” to my recipes as a way for me to organize my blog so I can keep track of the recipes I have posted. I have 675 recipes (676 with this new one) and I want to be aware of what I have already published and connect those that are similar. I also like to post different versions together such as slow cooker, Weight Watcher’s or even 5 versions of a recipe that I have tried and liked.
A fellow blogger over at nganmadeit has posted another delicious recipe using chicken, wine (yum) and lots of Parmesan. Check her recipe out too as it is excellent and a perfect dinner any day of the week. All 4 of these recipes are very good but with different ingredients and cooking methods. So, if you are looking for a great one pot meal for the whole family try one of these versions 🙂
Cavatappi and Broccoli in a Creamy Garlic-Parmesan Sauce
- 8 large garlic cloves, peeled
- 3 cups small broccoli florets
- 2-1/4 cups Cavatappi
- 2 cups evaporated fat-free milk
- 1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. flour
- 3/4 cups reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
- salt and pepper to taste
- chives, minced for garnish
Cook the garlic in a large saucepan of boiling water until softened, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic to a cutting board, reserving the water. Mince the soft garlic and set aside.
Cook the pasta according to package directions in the garlic water and add the broccoli florets the last 3 minutes of cooking time.
Combine the milk and flour in a large nonstick skillet, blending until the flour is dissolved. Cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, until thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, salt and pepper to taste to the milk mixture. Cook, stirring constantly until the cheeses melt. Stir in the pasta and broccoli and heat through.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
This is the greatest looking pasta that just says smother me in a good cheese or tomato sauce and enjoy!
Looks delicious! Love pasta!
Thanks Laura – this combination is really good, especially using evaporated milk 🙂
Wow! Aunt Juju, this pasta is to die for. The pasta is cooked perfectly, as well as the broccoli. Give me a plate of this, please? And that salad, too! 😀
Thank you for bringing this at FF15. Uh, hope you are bringing enough for everyone. 😀 Enjoy the party! <3
Thank you Jhuls. I am enjoying the party and I know you are too – congrats on being a co-host 🙂
Oh yes! I am enjoying the party so much! 😀 Have a fab week to you, Aunt Juju! <3
I love this combination of broccoli and pasta and let’s face it, cheese (even low fat) makes everything better! I like this cavatappi pasta dish, Judi, it looks easy enough to make on a busy weeknight. Thank you for the shout-out and the recipe! Enjoy your weekend!
You are welcome Ngan – I love this combination (can you tell – I only have 3 versions and with yours I am good to go with this dish). Happy Fiesta #15 and have a great week 🙂
this is such a lovely comfort food!! Hungryy… 🙂
Thanks Ayesha – yes it is definitely a comfort food for me too 🙂
As far as I’m concerned, you can never go wrong with pasta. This healthier version is just so “right”, Judi! It looks “D”elicious. It looks creamy and delicious without all of the added fat. 🙂 Your photos look great…it looks like reading through that manual has really paid off for you!
Thanks Nancy – I love my carbs too – anything with pasta in it is a winner for me. Yes, I am trying to read all of these manuals – I even bought the Nikon D7000 for Dummies 🙂
The sauce sounds great Aunt JuJu! Yum!
Thanks Lori – this is my favorite probably due to the evaporated milk.
Looks absolutely delicious! So creamy and love the broccoli in it!
Thank you Indu – the cavatappi really absorbed this creamy cheese sauce! Enjoy your week 🙂
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Wow – this looks fabulous – thanks for bringing it to the party – it is going to disappear fast! Nearly 700 recipes? I am in awe…This sounds like a great recipe – healthy, tasty and creamy – what’s not to love? Enjoy Fiesta Friday!!
Thanks Selma – enjoy this Fiesta Friday #15 and especially co-hosting with Jhuls 🙂
Whoa, JuJu! This is amazing! I had never heard of Cavatappi before, but I am going to look for it tomorrow! Thanks so much for bringing this to FF!
Thanks Julianna – yes I love this pasta a lot. I first found it at a Meijer’s store but it is not a popular pasta yet in the stores near me 🙂
wow!good! that hunger!
Thank you 🙂
I love the shape of cavatappi and the sound of your recipe adaptations JuJu! 🙂
Thanks – I am crazy about cavatappi pasta and what it adds to any sauce. 🙂
This pasta dish looks delicious! I like to cook with evaporated milk, it gives a nice taste to sauces…
Thanks – I agree with you about cooking with evaporated milk, even the lower fat 🙂
My kids would be all over this, Juju. They love this kind of pasta dish. If they’re good to me tomorrow, maybe I should cook them this. I was promising myself not to do any cooking or cleaning for Mother’s Day, lol… Happy Mother’s Day to you! <3
Thanks – It is a good dish for kids and most of the ones I know love it. I do hope you took the day off and all of the other mothers who are so deserving 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day to you!
looks good,easy to cook and healty yes? hehe x
Thanks – it is a Weight Watcher’s recipe; as long as you do not eat too much it is a healthier version 🙂
Sounds great x
Hah I shall try not to x
Yummy! Looks delicious and I now know the name of another pasta, cavatappi 🙂
Thanks – I hope you try this pasta as it is now my favorite and I look for ways to use it. Of course any penne would be fine to use but this cavatappi makes a dish special. 🙂
Creamy AND good for me?? Oh, must try soon! Thank you, Judi! 😀
Thanks Patty – of course any Weight Watcher’s recipe is “healthy” just do not have 2 or 3 servings 🙂
Oh well then. That messes up my plans! 😉