CREAMY CAULIFLOWER PASTA WITH PECORINO BREAD CRUMBS
Equal parts cauliflower and pasta, this one-skillet dinner is a vegetable-forward version of macaroni and cheese. A whole head of cauliflower browns and caramelizes in a skillet before being simmered with heavy cream, pecorino cheese and a bit of lemon zest, breaking down into a special (and yes, decadent) sauce to coat the pasta shape of your choosing. For those looking to make it their own, this pasta could absolutely handle a bit of chopped bacon sautéed with the cauliflower, or handfuls of leafy greens tossed in at the end to wilt. Whatever you do, do not skip the bread crumbs - they are a not-so-stealthy vehicle for more cheese, and also add much-needed texture to the finished dish.
Provided by Alison Roman
Categories dinner, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pasta pot filled with salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente; drain and reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water.
- Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they're evenly toasted and golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add 1/4 cup pecorino and toss to coat, letting the cheese melt and clump among the bread crumbs (think granola-like clusters). Remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl or plate; set aside.
- Wipe out the skillet and heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add shallot and cauliflower and season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the cauliflower has completely softened and both the cauliflower and shallots are beginning to caramelize and brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and 1 tablespoon lemon zest and bring to a simmer, then let the cream reduce and thicken, 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and plenty of pepper; if pasta is still cooking, remove from heat and set aside until pasta is ready.
- Return the skillet to medium heat and add the pasta to the cauliflower, along with the remaining 1/4 cup pecorino and 3/4 cup of the pasta water. Cook, tossing to coat the pasta and thicken the sauce until it's thick and glossy, and almost resembles macaroni and cheese, adding more pasta water by the tablespoon as needed, 4 to 6 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Divide pasta among bowls and top with pecorino bread crumbs, chives, more lemon zest, red-pepper flakes (if using) and more cheese if you like.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 775, UnsaturatedFat 26 grams, Carbohydrate 68 grams, Fat 49 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 976 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams
PASTA AND CAULIFLOWER SOUP FEDERICA
Steps:
- Bring stock to a boil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over high heat and add sea salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in cauliflower and simmer, covered, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in pasta and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 10 to 15 minutes (pasta takes longer to cook in stock than in water).
- Stir in sea salt to taste and serve soup drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with cheese.
PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER
This dish is derived from a Marcella Hazan recipe. It's dead simple, and the cauliflower can be precooked a day ahead or so. Or, the whole thing can be made at once: cook the cauliflower in water, scoop it out and then, later, cook the pasta in the same water. It's already boiling, and you want the taste of the cauliflower anyway, so why not? The cauliflower gets cooked more, in a skillet with toasted garlic, so don't boil it to death, although you do want it to be tender. And in the original Minimalist recipe, from 2000, bread crumbs were added to the skillet along with the cauliflower, but since some pasta water is usually added to the skillet to keep the mixture saucy, the bread crumbs become soggy. Better, then, to stir the bread crumbs in at the very end. They should be very coarse and ideally homemade, and if they're toasted in olive oil in a separate skillet before you toss them in, so much the better.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, easy, main course
Time 40m
Yield 3 or 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Trim the cauliflower and divide it into florets. Add about a tablespoon of salt to the water and boil cauliflower until it is tender but not mushy. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, remove the cauliflower and set it aside. When it is cool enough to handle, chop it roughly into small pieces.
- Meanwhile, in a large deep skillet over medium-low heat, sauté garlic in olive oil, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden. Start cooking pasta in same pot and same water as was used for the cauliflower.
- When the garlic is ready, add the cauliflower to skillet and turn heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally. When pasta is just about done - it should be 2 or 3 minutes short of the way you like it - drain it, reserving about a cup of cooking liquid.
- Add pasta to skillet containing the cauliflower, and toss with a large spoon until they are well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste, along with just enough pasta water to keep the mixture moist but not soupy. When the mixture is hot and the pasta is tender and nicely glazed, mix in the bread crumbs.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 686, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 112 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 678 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams
CAULIFLOWER AND ROASTED GARLIC SOUP
To prime everyone's palate for creative comfort food, serve this hearty roasted garlic-infused soup garnished with cauliflower florets for your first course at Thanksgiving or a fall dinner party.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Soups, Stews & Stocks Soup Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut off tops of garlic heads. Place each on a piece of parchment-lined aluminum foil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap tightly in foil, and bake until garlic is very soft, about 1 hour. Let cool. Squeeze garlic from peel; set aside. Increase oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add onions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until soft but not browned. Stir in sliced cauliflower, thyme bundle, and wine. Simmer until wine is reduced by half. Add stock; bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove cover, and simmer until cauliflower is soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Remove thyme and stir in cream and 2 1/2 cups Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in garlic. Puree in batches until smooth. Thin with more stock or cream, if desired. Return to pot; keep warm on low heat.
- Heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over high heat in a saute pan until almost smoking. Add cauliflower florets, stirring until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pan to oven and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in thyme, parsley, and remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan. To serve: Ladle soup into bowls, and garnish with cauliflower florets.
PASTA AND CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Make and share this Pasta and Cauliflower Soup recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Barb in WNY
Categories Cauliflower
Time 45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, heat oil.
- Saute carrots and onions for 5 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add cauliflower and water; cover and cook 5 minutes.
- Stir in pasta, shells, basil and salt; bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and cook 12-16 minutes, or until shells are tender.
- Sprinkle evenly with cheese and pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 58.1, Fat 3.1, SaturatedFat 0.8, Cholesterol 2.6, Sodium 356.1, Carbohydrate 6.3, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 2.6, Protein 2.2
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