Cauliflower Pasta With Ricotta Cheese Food

CRUSTY BAKED SHELLS & CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Fill a large pot with water, add 2 tablespoons salt, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook al dente, according to the instructions on the package. Since it will be baked later, don't overcook it! Drain and pour into a very large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium-high heat, add half the cauliflower in one layer, and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the florets are lightly browned and tender. Pour the cauliflower, including the small bits, into the bowl with the pasta. Add 3 more tablespoons of oil to the saute pan, add the remaining cauliflower, cook until browned and tender, and add to the bowl.
• Add the sage, capers, garlic, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper to the bowl and stir carefully. Stir in the Fontina. Transfer half of the mixture to a 10 x 13 x 2-inch rectangular baking dish. Spoon rounded tablespoons of ricotta on the pasta and spoon the remaining pasta mixture on top. Combine the panko, Pecorino, parsley, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl and sprinkle it evenly on top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until browned and crusty on top. Serve hot.

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until about halfway cooked (it needs to be very firm at this stage so that it doesn't overcook when baked). Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid, and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well.
• Lightly crush cherry tomatoes with your hands in a large bowl. Add mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, Parmesan, cream, and reserved ½ cup pasta cooking liquid and mix to combine. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add cauliflower and cooked pasta and toss to coat. Butter (or lightly coat) a 3-qt. or 13x9x2" baking dish with butter. Scrape in pasta mixture and spread out into an even layer. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake pasta until hot throughout and steaming when foil is lifted, 20-25 minutes.
• Remove foil and increase oven temperature to 425°F. Continue to bake pasta until sauce is bubbling and top is browned and crunchy in spots, 25-30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Pasta can be assembled 2 days ahead. Cover and chill until ready to bake.

CRUSTY CAULIFLOWER AND RICOTTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Cook garlic for 30 seconds, DO NOT BROWN.
• Add in tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in cauliflower and toss to coat with the tomato mixture.
• Pour in several tbsp of water and cover pan.
• Cook for 7 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender.
• Take pan off heat and let cool to room temperature or warm.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Butter a casserole dish.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl, beat in ricotta cheese, milk, Parmesan, parsley, nutmeg, cayenne, pepper, and muenster.
• Stir in cauliflower mixture.
• Spread into casserole dish and top with breadcrumbs
• Bake 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

CAULIFLOWER MASCARPONE GRATIN

Steps:

• Cook the cauliflower in a pot of boiling salted water for 5 minutes. Drain well and pat dry.
• Heat oven to 425 (220C) degrees. Coat a 3-4 quart shallow gratin or baking dish with the butter. Arrange the cauliflower in the dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the mascarpone, cream, flour, ¼ cup of the Parmesan, herbs, garlic and salt until smooth. Spoon the mixture over the cauliflower. Sprinkle the top with the remaining Parmesan.
• Bake 25-30 minutes, or until top is browned and sauce is bubbling. Rest 15 minutes before serving.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200 fan/gas 9. Toss the cauliflower florets, leaves and sliced core with 1 tbsp olive oil in a roasting tin and season. Roast in the oven for 30-40 mins, or until the cauliflower is turning golden and smelling nutty. While it's roasting, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the shallots, sugar and thyme. Cook for 10-15 mins until soft, sweet and caramelised. Add the wine and cook for a few more mins until evaporated. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salty boiling water until just cooked. Drain and set aside.
• For the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a non-stick saucepan over a medium heat with the bay leaf. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 mins or so, until the roux is starting to bubble. Pour in the milk, little by little, stirring with a whisk, until fully incorporated and you have a smooth, lump-free sauce. Cook for about 10 mins until thickened, and then season with nutmeg and black pepper. Next, add the cheese and stir over the heat until it's melted and smooth. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning, adding the vinegar or lemon juice to taste.
• Tip the pasta and shallots into the cauliflower roasting dish, then pour over the cheese sauce and stir so everything is well coated. Sprinkle over the remaining parmesan, reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 20 mins, or until golden. Remove from the oven and allow to settle for about 10 mins, then serve with a crisp chicory salad.

CAULIFLOWER PASTA WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta.
• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add butter and melt. Add onions and garlic to pan, and season with salt, pepper and bay. Stir and cook 8-10 minutes to soften.
• Add wine to the pan, stir 1 minute then add stock.
• Arrange cauliflower over onions and add crushed red pepper, lemon zest and rosemary to the pan.
• Cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You don't want the cauliflower too mushy.
• Drop pasta in boiling water after vegetables have been cooking 3-4 minutes. Cook pasta to al dente.
• Add ladleful of starchy pasta cooking water to the vegetables.
• Drain pasta and toss it into the pot with sauce. Stir in ricotta cheese, thyme and grated Pecorino. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Serve pasta in shallow bowls.