My wife and I love italian peasant food and eat it often.
Take fresh broccoli blanche it, put it aside let it cool. Boil the water for penne rigatta or rotini. While the waters boiling put olive oil in a sautee pan, just cover the bottom add garlic to taste. To us there is never enough garlic, I use a head and half. Sautee the garlic till its just turning golden brown and toss in the broccoli take it off the eat mix it well add some salt pepper and crushed red pepper if you like it. Mix it with whole grain pasta grate pamesan or locatelli.
I like it better with spinach or broccoli raab my wife likes garlic. There is virtually no cholesterol or fat other than the good fat from Olive oil
You can add variations I do sautee eggplant and do the same thing and zucchini etc. Whatever you use its all good for you.
Another variation that I use take hot italian sausage slice the skin open sautee till cooked an browned separating it and mix that with the pasta and whatever veggie you use. I LOVE THAT