Penne With Cauliflower Food

BAKED PENNE WITH SAUSAGE, TOMATO AND CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat the stock with the saffron in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a pot and season with salt. Add the cauliflower, cover and steam until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain and break into florets.
• Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and crumble it into very small pieces with a potato masher or wooden spoon. Add the garlic and onions and cook for 5 minutes. Deglaze with the wine, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, tomatoes and saffron stock and stir to break up the tomatoes. Simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and cinnamon stick and season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook to just shy of al dente, about 7 minutes. Reserve a ladle of the starchy cooking liquid and drain the pasta.
• Return the pasta to the pot. Add the heavy cream, cauliflower, sausage sauce and
• a little of the reserved cooking liquid and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and top with the cheeses and parsley. Bake until the top is browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Divide among plates.
• Cook's Note: The unbaked casserole can be covered and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal. Bake as directed before serving.

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.

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.

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.