Craving a hearty and flavorful pasta dish that's also packed with vegetables? Look no further than this pasta with cauliflower, bacon, and breadcrumbs. This delectable recipe combines the crispy texture of bacon, the earthy flavor of cauliflower, and the comforting warmth of pasta, all topped with a sprinkle of crunchy breadcrumbs for added texture. With a perfect balance of flavors and textures, this dish is sure to satisfy your taste buds and leave you feeling satisfied. In addition to the main recipe, we'll also explore variations such as a vegetarian version without bacon, a creamy cauliflower sauce variation, and a roasted cauliflower and sausage version. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
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PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER, BACON AND SAGE
A comforting dinner for a cold night, this hearty pasta has all the makings of a crowd-pleaser like fried sage leaves, crispy bacon and nutty roasted cauliflower. This recipe demonstrates the magic of starchy pasta water: Swirled with lemon juice and Parmesan, it creates a luxurious sauce without the addition of cream or butter. Add more pasta water than you think you need, so the pasta stays moist as it absorbs the sauce.
Provided by Lidey Heuck
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the cauliflower on a sheet pan. Drizzle with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and toss to coat. Roast, tossing occasionally, until tender and browned all over, 20 to 25 minutes. While the cauliflower roasts, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the sage leaves to pan and fry until they begin to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sage leaves to the plate with the bacon. Drain all but 3 tablespoons of fat from the skillet (or add additional olive oil, if needed) and remove from heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon salt to the boiling water and cook the pasta until just al dente, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and add to the reserved skillet; heat over low. Pour or squeeze the lemon juice over the pasta, along with 1 cup pasta water and the 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Toss until the sauce comes together.
- Stir in the cauliflower, bacon and sage, adding a splash more pasta water if the pasta seems dry. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with lemon zest, and serve with extra Parmesan on the side.
PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER, BACON & BREADCRUMBS RECIPE - (4.2/5)
Provided by Foodiewife
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- BACON PANKO TOPPING: Cook bacon in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add panko and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until panko is well browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer panko mixture to bowl and wipe out skillet. CAULIFLOWER: Heat 5 teaspoons oil in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add cauliflower and 1 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is crisp-tender and browned in spots, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm. PASTA: Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until onion has softened, 4 to 7 minutes. Increase heat to high, add pasta, broth, and wine, and bring to simmer. Cook pasta, stirring frequently, until most of liquid is absorbed and pasta is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat; stir in parsley, lemon juice, and cauliflower; and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, passing panko mixture and lemon wedges separately.
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
Tips:
- Choose the right cauliflower: Look for a head of cauliflower that is compact and heavy, with tightly packed florets. Avoid any heads with brown or yellow spots, as this indicates spoilage.
- Cut the cauliflower into small florets: This will help them cook evenly and quickly.
- Roast the cauliflower before adding it to the pasta: This will help to caramelize the florets and give them a slightly smoky flavor.
- Use a good quality bacon: This will make a big difference in the flavor of the dish. Look for bacon that is thick-cut and has a good amount of marbling.
- Cook the bacon until it is crispy: This will help to render out the fat and give the bacon a delicious flavor.
- Use panko breadcrumbs: These will help to create a crispy topping for the pasta.
- Season the breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, and Parmesan cheese: This will add flavor to the topping.
- Garnish the pasta with fresh parsley: This will add a pop of color and flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
This pasta dish is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The roasted cauliflower adds a slightly smoky flavor to the pasta, while the crispy bacon and panko breadcrumbs add a delicious crunch. The dish is also very versatile, so you can easily add or remove ingredients to suit your taste.
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