Penne With Pork And Cauliflower Recipes

PENNE WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Place the pasta in a large serving bowl.
• For the vegetables: Place an oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a heavy baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Arrange the zucchini, summer squash, cauliflower, carrots and garlic in a single layer. Drizzle with the olive oil and bake until light golden and tender, 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
• For the vinaigrette: Whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
• To assemble: Place the vegetables in the bowl. Add the pasta on top. Add the Parmesan on top so it sticks to the pasta and helps everything else stick. Toss the vegetables and pasta. Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta and toss. Add the prosciutto on top and do not toss until the pasta is cool.

BAKED ZITI OR PENNE RIGATE WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• 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.
• Meanwhile, place the saffron in a small bowl and add 3 tablespoons warm water. Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of 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. Season to taste with salt (remembering that the anchovies will contribute a lot of salt) and freshly ground pepper. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Stir in the cauliflower, saffron with its soaking water, and parsley, cover and simmer for another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Bring the cauliflower water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook until just al dente, a few minutes less than you would cook it to serve. It will soften further when it bakes. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 3-quart baking dish. Toss the pasta with half the cauliflower mixture and half the cheese and spoon into the baking dish. Combine the remaining cauliflower mixture and remaining cheese and spoon over the pasta. Drizzle on the remaining tablespoon of oil. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbling. Serve hot.

PENNE WITH PORK AND CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• 1 Pour the oil into a large skillet. Add the the garlic and cook over medium heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the pork and fennel seeds and stir well. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned, about 15 minutes. 2 Add the wine and simmer 3 minutes, or until most of the liquid evaporates. 3 Add the tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 15 minutes or until the sauce is slightly reduced. 4 Bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the cauliflower and 2 tablespoons of salt. Cook until the cauliflower is tender, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, scoop out the cauliflower and drain well. Do not discard the water. 5 Add the cauliflower to the sauce and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up the pieces with a spoon, until the sauce is thick, about 10 minutes more. 6 Bring the water back to a boil and add the pasta. Cook, 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. 7 Transfer the pasta to a heated serving bowl. Toss the pasta with the sauce, thinning it if necessary with the cooking water. Add the cheese and toss well. Serve immediately. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CHEESY BAKED PENNE WITH CAULIFLOWER AND CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Cook cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Using large sieve, transfer cauliflower to bowl. Add tomatoes to pot; cook 1 minute. Remove from water; peel and dice tomatoes. Reserve pot of water.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cauliflower; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and green onions. Cook 1 minute to blend flavors. Remove from heat. Season with coarse salt and pepper.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in cream. Cook until sauce thickens, whisking occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add 2 cups Comté cheese; whisk until melted and sauce is smooth. Whisk in 1/2 cup Parmesan, then crème fraîche and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Return reserved pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain; return pasta to same pot. Stir in cauliflower mixture and sauce.
• Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon in half of pasta mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 cup Comté cheese. Top with remaining pasta mixture and 1/2 cup Comté cheese. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in small skillet. Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat. Remove from heat; mix in 1/4 cup Parmesan. Sprinkle crumbs over pasta. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pasta uncovered until heated through and bubbling, about 35 minutes.
• *Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

PENNE WITH CAULIFLOWER AND BEEF SAUCE

Steps:

• 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. Drain.
• While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cauliflower; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add beef, onions, and garlic; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper flakes. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Drain penne. Pour into the skillet and stir to combine. Serve.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER PENNE WITH CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Toss cauliflower with olive oil. Transfer to a baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle garlic over cauliflower and toss to combine. Continue to cook until cauliflower is tender and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from the oven.
• While the cauliflower is roasting, melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat, and bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
• Add flour to the melted butter and stir until smooth. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture turns a light, golden color, about 5 minutes.
• At the same time, cook penne in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1/4 cup pasta water.
• Add hot milk, 1 cup at a time, to the butter mixture, whisking continuously until very smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes. Stir in Romano cheese and remove from the heat. Season with nutmeg and salt and set aside until ready to use.
• Combine penne, roasted cauliflower, bechamel sauce, and tomatoes in a large bowl. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little of the reserved pasta water. Serve immediately with black pepper.

PENNE WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Trim the cauliflower and break into florets.
• In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower with 1 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Roast the cauliflower in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned.
• Stir occasionally.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil.
• Add the pasta and cook until tender but firm.
• Drain well.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoons olive oil.
• Toss the dressing with the cauliflower, peppers, olives, basil and pasta.
• Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
• Serve at room temperature.