Broccoli pasta bake

Name: Broccoli pasta bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: For 4 family portions
Ingredients: 300 g short pasta; 400 g broccoli; 250 ml milk; 150 g cream cheese labelled vegetarian; 100 g grated cheese labelled vegetarian; 1 tsp rapeseed oil for the dish; 1 small pinch of nutmeg

Broccoli pasta bake: an easy vegetarian family recipe with Puschel and Flauschi, precise quantities and shared tasks for children and adults.

The little story

A little kitchen adventure

Puschel arranges broccoli like tiny trees. Flauschi sprinkles cheese over the vegetable forest. Flauschi“Snow in the broccoli woods!” Luckily this snow turns beautifully golden in the oven.

Total: about 55 minutes (including boiling the pasta and 5 minutes cooling). Preparation: about 15 minutes · Cooking/baking: about 25 minutes. Times are estimates.

Gluten & lactose

Not gluten-free: The basic recipe contains gluten-containing cereals in flour, bread, pasta, dough or breadcrumbs. It is not gluten-free as written. Substitutions may change quantities, texture and cooking times; do not assume a one-for-one flour swap works in baking.

Lactose-free with changes: The basic recipe is not designated lactose-free. Check milk, cream cheese, cheese for lactose and use explicitly lactose-free products where needed. Aged cheese is not automatically classified as lactose-free without appropriate labelling.

These labels assess the listed recipe ingredients; they do not certify the finished dish. For gluten-free cooking use clean utensils and surfaces and avoid contact with flour or breadcrumbs. Lactose-free does not mean free from milk protein or suitable for a milk allergy.

For 4 family portions

How to make it

In a few words: Precook pasta and broccoli, mix with cream cheese sauce and bake with cheese on top.

Ingredients

300 g short pasta
400 g broccoli
250 ml milk
150 g cream cheese labelled vegetarian
100 g grated cheese labelled vegetarian
1 tsp rapeseed oil for the dish
1 small pinch of nutmeg

Method

Children: Wash broccoli and weigh pasta and cheese. Adults preheat the oven to 190 °C conventional heat.
Adults: Cut broccoli into small florets and dice peeled stalk.
Adults: Cook pasta 2 minutes less than its packet time; add broccoli for the final 4 minutes and drain safely.
Children: Mix cold milk, cream cheese and nutmeg.
Adults: Grease a 20 × 30 cm dish, add pasta and broccoli and pour over sauce.
Children: If the dish is not hot, sprinkle over cheese. Adults bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbling and golden.
Adults: Remove dish and let cool for 5 minutes. Children set the table.

Equipment

Kitchen scales, a bowl and the cooking equipment named in the steps. Adults handle all hot or sharp equipment.

Allergens and shopping

Wheat (gluten), milk; egg if using egg pasta. Always check the actual ingredient labels and family allergies.

Buy any cheese explicitly labelled vegetarian and without animal rennet; choose pastry without animal lard.

Text & appearance