LINGUINE WITH CAULIFLOWER, PINE NUTS, AND CURRANTS

LINGUINE WITH CAULIFLOWER, PINE NUTS, AND CURRANTS image

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

SERVES: 4
With its brown-butter sauce, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, this pasta recipe combines flavors from both Northern and Southern Italy.
ingredients
1/3 cup pine nuts
1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 1/2 pounds), cut into small florets
1/2 cup currants or raisins
1/2 cup water
3/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes
3/4 pound linguine
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

directions Heat the oven to 350°. Toast the pine nuts until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Put the cauliflower in a large frying pan. Add the currants, water, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a simmer over moderate heat and cook, covered, until the cauliflower is almost tender, about 3 minutes. Remove the mixture from the pan. Put the butter in the pan and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the butter is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower mixture, the oil, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until just done, about 12 minutes. Reserve 3/4 cup of the pasta water. Drain the linguine and toss with 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, the cauliflower mixture, pine nuts, Parmesan, and parsley. If the pasta seems dry, add more of the reserved pasta water. Serve with additional Parmesan.