Parmigiano Crusted Rigatoni Wcauliflower Bacon Food

PARMIGIANO-CRUSTED RIGATONI W/CAULIFLOWER & BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
• Add the garlic & crushed red pepper, if using, and cook over moderate heat until lightly golden, about 3 minutes.
• Add the cream and simmer until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes; season with salt and frshly ground black pepper.
• Cook the rigatoni until al dente; about 6 minutes before the rigatoni is done, add the cauliflower florets to the pot.
• Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the panko with the Parmigiano cheese and the remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Return the rigatoni and cauliflower to the pot.
• Add the garlic cream, the crispy bacon and the reserved pasta water and toss until the pasta is coated.
• Scrape the pasta into a large shallow baking dish and sprinkle the panko mixture evenly over the top.
• Broil for about 2 minutes, rotating constantly, until the topping is evenly browned.
• Serve hot with a cherry-rich red blend: 2005 Capezzana Barco Reale.
• Enjoy!

PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER, BACON AND SAGE

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.

PARMIGIANO CRUSTED RIGATONI WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• 1. Preheat broiler. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. IN medium skillet, heat 1 T. of the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook over medium heat until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Add cream and simmer until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Season the garlic cream with salt and pepper. Cook rigatoni until al dente; about 6 minutes before the rigatoni is done, add cauliflower florets to pot. Drain, reserving 2 T. of the pasta cooking water. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, toss panko with Parmigiano and remaining 2 1/2 T. olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Return rigatoni and cauliflower to pot. Add garlic cream, the prosciutto and the reserved pasta water and toss until pasta is coated. Scrape pasta into large shallow baking dish and sprinkle the panko mixture evenly over the top. Broil for about 2 minutes, rotating constantly until topping is evenly browned. Serve hot.

RIGATONI AND CAULIFLOWER AL FORNO

Steps:

• Cook the rigatoni in well-salted water according to package directions, but drain while still quite al dente. (If directions call for 12 minutes cooking, cook for 10 instead.) Rinse pasta with cool water, then drain again and set aside.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut cauliflower in half from top to bottom. Cut out tough core and stem any extraneous leaves. Lay cauliflower flat side down and cut crosswise into rough 1/4-inch slices. Break into smaller pieces.
• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a wide skillet over high heat. Add cauliflower slices, along with any crumbly pieces, in one layer. (Work in batches if necessary.) Let cauliflower brown and caramelize for about 2 minutes, then turn pieces over to brown the other side. Cook for another 2 minutes, or until the cauliflower is easily pierced with a fork. It's fine if some pieces don't brown evenly. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add capers, garlic, red pepper flakes, chopped sage, sage leaves and lemon zest and stir to coat.
• Put cooked cauliflower mixture in a large mixing bowl. Add cooked rigatoni and fontina and toss. Transfer mixture to a lightly oiled baking dish. Top with Romano cheese, then with bread crumbs and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon olive oil. (Dish may be completed to this point up to several hours in advance and kept at room temperature, covered.)
• Bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until top is crisp and golden. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley before serving.