Cauliflower With Saffron And Pasta Recipes

SAFFRON ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the saffron, coriander, garlic, shallot and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the shallot is translucent and the oil turns yellow, about 5 minutes. Add the cauliflower, lemon juice and 1/3 cup water. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower turns yellow and the water has mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven. Roast, stirring halfway through, until the cauliflower is tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and sprinkle with parsley.

PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER, SAFFRON, AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• 1 In a small bowl, sprinkle the saffron threads with 2 tablespoons of hot water. Place the currants in another bowl with hot water to cover. Let both stand about 10 minutes. 2 Bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the cauliflower. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cauliflower is very tender when pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. Remove the cauliflower with a slotted spoon, reserving the water to cook the pasta. 3 Pour the oil into a skillet large enough to hold the cooked pasta. Add the onion and cook over medium heat 10 minutes. Add the anchovies and cook 2 minutes more, stirring frequently until they dissolve. Stir in the saffron and soaking liquid. Drain the currants and add them to the skillet. 4 Stir in the cooked cauliflower. Scoop up some of the cooking water and add it to the skillet with the cauliflower. Cook 10 minutes, breaking up the cauliflower with the back of a spoon, until it is in small pieces. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the pine nuts. 5 While the cauliflower cooks, bring the cooking water back to a boil. Add the pasta and stir well. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente, tender yet still firm to the bite. Set aside some of the cooking water. Drain the pasta, then add it to the skillet with the cauliflower mixture. Stir well, adding some of the cooking water if the pasta seems dry. 6 Serve the pasta sprinkled with the toasted bread crumbs. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CAULIFLOWER WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Heat a little olive oil in a saucepan.
• Add the sliced onion with a little sea salt and fry for a few minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the cauliflower together with the saffron and stock or water to each about half way up the cauliflower.
• Leave the cauliflower for about 5 minutes to cook and allow the juices to reduce down.
• When the juices are low, add the pine nuts and raisins with pepper to taste.

PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

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.

PASTA WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Toss cauliflower with garlic cloves, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven, tossing at least twice, until cauliflower is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
• Mix Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl; set aside.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Transfer pasta to a serving bowl and add cauliflower and butter. Stir in cooking water, a little at a time, until desired creaminess is reached. Add lemon juice and bread crumb mixture, toss, and serve.

CREAMY PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Place cauliflower into a large pot of salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove cauliflower with a strainer, reserving the cooking water in the pot.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add cauliflower florets and red pepper flakes; saute until browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Add heavy cream; cook until reduced by half, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring the cauliflower cooking water back to a boil. Add farfalle and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
• Add tomatoes to the cauliflower sauce; cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup Parmesan cheese to the cauliflower sauce; cook and stir until melted, about 1 minute more.
• Combine pasta and sauce; toss until well coated. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese to serve.

RIGATONI WITH CAULIFLOWER, SAFFRON, AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Cover raisins with warm water in a bowl. Cook garlic and oil in a skillet over medium-low heat until garlic begins to brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Add pepper flakes, anchovies, capers, saffron, and stock. Stir, cook until combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cauliflower and raisins; season with salt and black pepper. Cook, covered, 10 to 12 minutes, until cauliflower is tender. Uncover; let liquid reduce slightly over high heat, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until just tender. Drain; toss into warm cauliflower mixture. Just before serving, tear basil leaves, and toss into pasta along with pine nuts.

SICILIAN PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Place the raisins or currants in a small bowl and cover with warm water. In another bowl combine the saffron with 3 tablespoons warm water. Let both sit for 20 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Add the cauliflower and boil gently until the florets are tender but the middle resists when poked with a skewer or knife, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoons or tongs (or a pasta insert) remove the cauliflower from the water, transfer to a bowl of cold water and drain. Cover the pot and turn off the heat. You will cook the pasta in the cauliflower water. Cut the florets from the core of the cauliflower and cut them into small florets or crumble coarsely using a fork or your hands.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until it smells fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute, and add the anchovies and tomatoes. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Drain the raisins or currants and add, along with the saffron and its soaking liquid, cauliflower, pine nuts or almonds, and about 1/4 cup of the cooking water from the cauliflower. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover, turn the heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Bring the cauliflower water back to a boil and cook the pasta al dente, following the timing instructions on the package. Check the sauce and if it seems dry add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and transfer to the pan with the sauce. Toss together and serve, sprinkled with pecorino and chopped basil leaves. If desired, drizzle a little olive oil over each serving.