Cauliflower Pesto Pasta

another recipe that i spotted in my smitten kitchen cookbook and i am always looking for new ways to use and cook with cauliflower.

Recipe from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

Serving: 6-8

Cook Time:

Ingredients:

  • Kosher salt

  • 6 to 8 ounces dried linguine or fine (thinner) linguine

  • 1 small (13-ounce) head cauliflower

  • 1/2 cup unsalted almonds (may substitute pine nuts)

  • 2 or 3 dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes

  • 1-ounce chunk pecorino Romano cheese (may substitute Parmigiano-Reggiano)

  • 1 medium clove garlic

  • 1 tablespoon drained capers

  • About 8 flat-leaf parsley leaves

  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes, or more as needed

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar, or more to taste

Method:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add a generous pinch of salt, then the linguine (allowing 2 ounces per serving). Cook according to the package directions. Drain and keep warm, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.

Meanwhile, cut the cauliflower into chunks, placing them in the food processor as you work. Pulse to form couscous-like crumbs; transfer to a mixing bowl.

Toast the almonds in a small, dry skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant and lightly browned, shaking them as needed to avoid scorching. Cool, then place in the food processor. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes, then transfer to the food processor. Coarsely chop the cheese and add to the food processor, along with the garlic, capers and parsley. Pulse to form a coarse bread-crumb consistency, then add the mixture to the cauliflower in the bowl, along with the crushed red pepper flakes.

Stir in the oil, 2 teaspoons of the vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to form a pestolike mixture. The yield is about 3 3/4 cups.

Add the pasta and toss to coat evenly, then add as much of the reserved pasta cooking water as needed to create the desired consistency. Taste, and adjust the seasoning, adding the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar as needed.

Divide among individual wide, shallow bowls. Serve right away.

there are quite a few ingredients for the recipe but once you have them it is a super easy recipe as you just put them all in a food processor and voila you have CAULIFLOWER pesto. the texture was that of pesto, however i thought the taste could have been a bit more intense. next time i will add more chili pepper flakes and sun dried tomatoes and see how that goes. as you mix it with the pasta the flavor does diminish so i would taste the mixture first to make sure it has enough flavor. i added some frozen peas to the pasta to add some color and texture and additional vegetable. if you are looking for another version of pesto then you can try this one. it can be easily whipped up for a weekday meal and is a good base recipe where you can adjust and alter the ingredients to your own taste.

cookingJackie Wongpasta, cauliflower, pesto, vegetarianComment