Monday, October 01, 2012

Oven hot Broccoli & Fusilli in white sauce,a winter warmer dish !

A week back i had been to my regular store to buy some groceries ,there i found a roll back offer on broccoli,a packet containing two small cute little heads of broccoli and then what,obviously i had to pick it up and put it in my shopping basket.No matter on whatever stuff i see the tag of " roll back price " i have some googly eyes going on there ;) .Finally i came home with my usual jam packed trolley and on the way my mind boggled for some good and healthy broccoli dishes.Its just that i always try and think of healthy food in dreams but while making i end up cooking the way i like to consume it ...and u bet it has nothing to do with health factor anywhere close  .The next day i made the broccoli and potato fry with one head and the other one was still lying in my refrigerator.I also found some cheese sitting in my fridge which i had to make use of or else it would straight away go into the trash.My daughter meantime started yelling that i never make fun food and when i asked her wht is this fun food all about,she said that according to her fun food means pastas/pizzas/burgers ....so here i go,hadn't much choice in hand i opted for pasta .So this is why i came up with this dish and i really thank my sweety pie for wrecking my brains to use pasta with this green beauty .

ingredients :
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup cooked fusilli as per the instructions given on your packet ( you can use any pasta)
2 tbsp chopped onions
1 tsp of finely chopped garlic
1 cup white sauce
1/4th cup shredded cheese ( i used mozeralla)
salt to taste
black pepper pwd to taste
2 tsps olive oil
red chilli flakes / herbs for seasoning ( optional )
for white sauce :
1 cup milk
2 tbsps butter
2 tbsps plain white flour ( maida)
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

method :
Steam broccoli over hot boiling water,cover for 5 mins until its tender yet crispy.Meanwhile heat olive oil,fry onions till translucent ,add garlic and fry for few seconds till u get its fragrance.Turn off the flame,add cooked fusilli,steamed broccoli ,toss a little,sprinkle some salt and pepper and give it a mix.
Preheat the oven at 200c .
For making  the white sauce,melt butter in a saucepan,stir in the flour and fry till the colour changes and u get some foam.Add in the milk slowly little at a time and whisk continuosly to avoid lumps.Keep stirring till the milk boils and then lower the flame and keep stirring till the sauce thickens and is smooth enough.Simmer for 5 mins and turn off the flame.Sprinkle salt and pepper as per your taste.
Pour this white sauce in the broccoli and fusilli mixture and mix it  gently,transfer this mixture in a greased baking pan.Sprinkle some shredded cheese over and bake in a preheated oven till the cheese melts and you get brown spots.Sprinkle some italian herbs/chilli flakes and the broccoli and pasta bake is ready to eat.