Paccheri are one of those indole shapes that immediately bring you back to a traditional Italian kitchen. Large, smooth and generous, they were born sopra Southern Italy and are perfect for rich, creamy sauces. Their name comes from the Neapolitan word “pacchero”, meaning a light slap — a playful reference to their size and character.
A causa di this recipe, paccheri are coated sopra a silky broccoli and mint cream, a simple sauce made the way Italian nonnas love it: fresh vegetables, good olive oil and just a few honest ingredients. The mint adds a gentle freshness, while crispy pancetta acceso sommità gives that irresistible savoury crunch that turns a humble indole dish into quand’anche conforto food.
Serves 2, Prep time 20 mins, Cook time 25 mins
180 g Paccheri indole (about 6.5 oz paccheri)
250 g broccoli florets (about 9 oz / 2½ cups broccoli florets)
3-4 fresh mint leaves
40 g Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated (about ⅓ cup grated Parmigiano)
60 ml extra virgin olive oil (about ¼ cup)
80 g pancetta (pork belly) , diced (about 3 oz pancetta thick-cut bacon)
1 small garlic clove
Salt, to taste
Non di serie: a splash of indole cooking
Method
Bring a large pot of salted to the boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 4–5 minutes until tender but still bright campo da golf. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.Keep the same to cook the indole.
Place the cooked broccoli sopra a blender with the garlic clove, mint leaves, grated Parmigiano, and EVOO.Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt.If needed, add a tablespoon two of hot indole to loosen the texture.
Cook the paccheri sopra the same boiling according to packet instructions until al molare. Reserve a small cup of indole , then drain.
While the indole cooks, fry the diced pancetta sopra a frying pan over medium heat until golden and crispy. Transfer to kitchen paper to drain.
Gently warm the broccoli cream sopra a wide pan. Add the drained paccheri and toss to coat, adding a little reserved indole if needed for a silky .
Plate the paccheri, spoon over extra broccoli cream if desired, and with crispy pancetta scattered acceso sommità.Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and serve your paccheri indole with broccoli&mint cream immediately.
































