Pasta With Mushrooms and Broccoli

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Cut broccoli stalks away from crowns and peel stalks. Use a vegetable peeler to shave stalks into thin ribbons. Set aside. Cut crowns into thin slices (about ¼ inch). Combine with the little flower buds that fall off onto your cutting surface in a bowl.

2. Step 2

   Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add salt to taste, another tablespoon of oil, and shaved broccoli stems. Continue to sauté until the broccoli stem ribbons are crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and thyme, season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until garlic smells fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Remove from heat.

3. Step 3

   When water in the pasta pot comes to a boil, add salt to taste and spaghetti. Set timer for 2 minutes less than the cooking time suggested on the package. When it goes off, add thinly sliced broccoli crowns and flower buds, and cook 2 minutes more, or until the pasta is al dente. Using a ladle, transfer ½ cup of the pasta cooking water to the pan with the mushrooms and shaved broccoli stems. Drain the pasta and broccoli and toss with the mushroom and stem mixture, either in a large bowl or right in the pan. Serve with Parmesan cheese.