Have you ever found yourself craving a delicious and satisfying pasta dish but wanted to incorporate more vegetables into your meal? Look no further than Mark Bittman's pasta with cauliflower recipe. This innovative dish combines the classic flavors of pasta with the nutritional benefits of cauliflower, creating a hearty and flavorful meal that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Using simple, everyday ingredients, this recipe transforms cauliflower into a seamless and delicious addition to your pasta, resulting in a dish that is not only satisfying but also packed with nutrients.
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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
MARK BITTMAN'S PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER
A quick and simple recipe printed in "The New York Times" (Feb. 6, 2009). "There are many possible variations. For the cauliflower, you can substitute broccoli, rape or even kale or collards. When you're simmering the garlic, you can add anchovies, capers, pine nuts or dried red pepper flakes -- some or all of them. You can toss crumbled cooked sausage meat or chopped shrimp into the garlic mixture along with the bread crumbs. Or you can garnish with chopped parsley, basil or grated Parmesan."
Provided by blucoat
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
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 the cauliflower in it 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, saute 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 and bread crumbs to skillet, and turn heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally. When pasta is just about done -- it should be two or three 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, serve.
MARK BITTMAN'S PASTA WITH GARLIC, TOMATOES AND ANCHOVIES
I'm an anchovy-lover. If you are one too, you will like this. If you know an anchovy-hater, don't tell them and I bet they won't even know. The anchovies completely break down into the sauce. Of course you need excellent anchovies, and that means ones that are packed in olive oil, preferably from Italy or Spain.
Provided by Gay Gilmore
Categories Penne
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it for the pasta -- you should be able to make the entire recipe as the pasta cooks.
- Put olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; a minute later, add garlic and chilies, if using -- cook garlic so it bubbles gently.
- When it is lightly browned all over, add anchovies and cook, stirring occasionally, for about a minute, until anchovies begin to fall apart, then add tomatoes.
- Adjust heat so tomatoes bubble nicely, and cook until mixture becomes saucy, about 5 minutes.
- Taste and add salt and pepper as necessary (taste first because the anchovies can contribute plenty of salt).
- Meanwhile, cook pasta until tender but not mushy. When it is done, drain it, reserving a little cooking water to thin sauce if necessary. Serve pasta with sauce and parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 608.9, Fat 17.4, SaturatedFat 2.7, Cholesterol 17, Sodium 744.6, Carbohydrate 90.5, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 4, Protein 21.8
Tips:
- Choose the right cauliflower: Look for a head of cauliflower that is compact and heavy for its size, with tightly packed florets. Avoid cauliflower that has any brown or yellow spots, as this is a sign of spoilage.
- Roast the cauliflower before adding it to the pasta: Roasting the cauliflower brings out its natural sweetness and gives it a slightly caramelized flavor. To roast the cauliflower, simply toss it with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then roast it in a preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, or until it is tender and slightly browned.
- Use a good quality pasta: The type of pasta you use will make a big difference in the final dish. Look for a pasta that is made with durum wheat, as this type of wheat has a higher protein content and will hold its shape better when cooked.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente means "to the tooth" in Italian, and it refers to the ideal texture for cooked pasta. Pasta that is cooked al dente should be slightly firm to the bite, but not hard or crunchy.
- Add the roasted cauliflower and other vegetables to the pasta at the end of cooking: This will help to prevent the vegetables from becoming overcooked and mushy.
- Season the pasta to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You may also want to add a squeeze of lemon juice or a grating of Parmesan cheese.
Conclusion:
This pasta with cauliflower is a delicious and healthy meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its roasted cauliflower, flavorful vegetables, and creamy sauce, this pasta is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
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