Skip to content

Vegetarian, South and mountains

Pasta with brocciu and mint

Pasta with brocciu and mint is a Corsican dish for 4 people, ready in 20 minutes, very easy to make, for about €2.70 per person. The trick is loosening the brocciu with the pasta cooking water so it turns into a light cream that coats the pasta without going watery or clumping.

Corsican style pasta, bound with fresh brocciu, lifted with mint, ready in 20 minutes.

Pasta with brocciu and mint
Total time
20 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.70
Calories per person
720 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

Brocciu mashed with a fork keeps small curds and gives a creamy texture without turning into a smooth sauce. Fresh mint, added in two stages, brings a clean brightness that wakes up the mild cheese without ever taking over. The dish looks light but still fills you up thanks to the pasta and parmesan.

This is the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight when you have little time but still want to eat well. Kids generally like it for its mild flavor and simplicity, while adults enjoy the freshness of the mint. In spring or summer, with herbs straight from the garden, it tastes even better.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Pastaoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Brocciu or ricotta 300 g
  • Parmesan 40 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Mint 10 sprigs

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the pasta in salted water. 10 min

    Save a cup of the cooking water.

  2. Mash the brocciu with the olive oil and half the mint.

    Use a fork so it keeps small curds.

  3. Loosen it with the pasta cooking water.

    Add the water a little at a time.

  4. Toss the pasta with the brocciu cream.

    Stir briskly so it binds together.

  5. Serve with parmesan, fresh mint, and pepper.

    A few turns of the pepper mill.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a fresh brocciu, it mashes more easily and gives a smoother cream than an aged one.
  • Don't pour in all the cooking water at once, add it spoon by spoon until you reach the texture you want.
  • Toss the pasta with the brocciu cream while it's still hot, the heat helps the cheese coat every strand evenly.

The variations

  • If you can't find brocciu, ricotta works very well and gives a similar result.
  • For more depth, add some grated lemon zest at the same time as the mint.
  • For kids, cut back a bit on the mint and serve with extra parmesan.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with lemon
  • Fresh tomatoes in season
  • A glass of cold mint water

Storage

This dish is best eaten right away since the brocciu cream loses its texture as it cools. You can keep it for 1 day in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat it gently in a pan with a splash of water to bring back the creaminess.

Questions about this dish

Can you replace brocciu with another cheese?

Ricotta is the closest substitute in both texture and flavor. A sheep's milk brousse also works well if you can find it.

Can you make the brocciu cream ahead of time?

It's best to mash it right before tossing it with the pasta, since it loses freshness if it sits. You can wash and chop the mint ahead of time though.

Is this dish good for kids?

Yes, it's a mild dish that kids generally enjoy. Just cut back on the mint if you want a subtler flavor.

How much cooking water should you save?

A cup is plenty. You might not use it all, the key is adding it gradually to control the texture.

How long does it take to make a pasta with brocciu and mint?

Count 20 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a pasta with brocciu and mint?

About 720 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a pasta with brocciu and mint cost?

About €2.70 per serving, or €10.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Cuisine from the South and the mountains

See all

Cheese recipes

See all