Garlic Butter Cauliflower Pasta with Pangritata
Total Time
25 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Rating
5 out of 5 stars
(24)
Ingredients
3 servings
- 1 to 2 slices bread (, crusts removed, preferably stale (enough to make 1/2 cup)
- Oil spray (preferably olive oil)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves (, smashed (Note 1)
- 1/2 large head of cauliflower (, broken/cut into florets about 2"/5cm long (about 4 to 5 cups) (Note 2)
- 8 oz / 250 g fettuccine (or pasta of choice)
- 1/2 red onion (, thinly sliced)
- 1/2 to 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 lemon (: 2 tbsp lemon juice + zest of 1/2 the lemon)
- Salt & pepper
- Parmesan cheese (, freshly grated)
- Fresh parsley (, finely chopped (optional)
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Preparation
Step 1
Pangrattato
Step 2
Dice the bread into small pieces - you want (at least!) 1/2 cup. Spray generously with oil.
Step 3
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the bread crumbs and saute for about 2 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the skillet into a bowl and sprinkle with salt.
Step 4
Cauliflower Pasta
Step 5
Return the skillet to the stove. Melt the butter then add the oil. When hot, add the smashed garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 6
Add the cauliflower. Cook, stirring occasionally, for around 3 minutes, then add the red onion and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, until the cauliflower is beautiful golden brown but still a bit firm.
Step 7
Remove the smashed garlic cloves.
Step 8
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salted boiling water - 1 minute less than the recommended cooking time on the packet!
Step 9
RESERVE 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Then drain the pasta or use tongs to transfer it directly to the skillet.
Step 10
Pour the reserved pasta cooking water into the skillet along with the red chili flakes, a good pinch of salt and pepper. Gently toss the pasta for 1 to 2 minutes, until the water evaporates - you will be left with a luscious coating of sauce on each strand of pasta (this is called emulsification) and the cauliflower will finish cooking.
Step 11
Remove from the stove. Grate over zest of 1/2 the lemon and drizzle over about 2 tbsp of lemon juice. Toss quickly.
Step 12
Serve, sprinkled with Pangrattato with freshly grated parmesan and parsley, if using.
Step 13
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