Paccheri Pasta With Cauliflower And Spinach Recipes

PACCHERI WITH PORCINI AND PISTACHIO

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil to the skillet and heat for another 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, garlic and 3/4 teaspoon salt to the skillet and stir. Cook undisturbed, until the bottom layer of mushrooms is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Stir and repeat until the mushrooms are evenly browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the shallots and cook, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Deglaze with the wine and simmer until almost reduced, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and butter and simmer to emulsify and thicken slightly, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season generously with salt. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package instructions, until not quite al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, spoon the pasta directly from the water into the sauce over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup pasta water to the skillet. Sprinkle the bare pasta with 1 cup of the Parmesan. Toss well to combine and coat in the sauce. Simmer, tossing often, to finish the pasta, about 2 minutes. Stir in the arugula until just wilted and add the remaining Parmesan. Sprinkle with the pistachios. Top with more Parmesan before serving, if desired.

PACCHERI PASTA WITH PECORINO-PEPPER SAUCE WITH BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Chop the pecorino into 1-inch pieces (if you have a full-size, high-speed blender) or grate it (if you have a regular blender). Place the cheese in the blender.
• Heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the broccolini and cook for 3 minutes, until it just begins to wilt, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, puree the cheese and the pasta water in the blender until homogeneous. Be sure the lid is on tight, as pureeing hot liquids can be dangerous.
• Add the pepper and garlic to the broccolini and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the aroma of pepper and garlic fills the air.
• Pour the pecorino-pasta water puree into the broccolini and stir to combine, then immediately toss the mixture well with pasta, making sure every noodle is coated in sauce. Serve immediately.

PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

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.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE & SPINACH PASTA BAKES

Steps:

• For the tomato sauce, cook the sliced garlic in the oil for 1 min, then add the passata. Season, half-cover the pan and simmer for 20 mins until rich.
• Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Put the milk, flour and 50g butter into a pan. Heat, whisking non-stop, until smooth, then bubble for 3 mins, stirring to make sure any flouriness is lost. Cool for 5 mins, then stir in the mustard, most of the cheddar, half the blue cheese and half the nutmeg.
• Boil the penne and cauliflower for 8 mins in salted water until the pasta is almost cooked and the cauli is tender. Keep 2 tbsp water from the pan, then drain. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan, add the whole garlic clove, spinach, remaining nutmeg, salt and lots of black pepper. Stir for 2 mins, then remove the garlic clove.
• Set aside 300ml cheese sauce and mix the rest into the cauli and pasta. Divide half the tomato sauce between 6 dishes and top with some spinach. Fill with cauli mix, top with more spinach, then the rest of the tomato sauce. Top with the cheese sauce, cheeses and pine nuts. Cover with cling film, cool and chill for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To cook, defrost if frozen. Heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6. Cook on a baking sheet for 18-20 mins until golden and bubbling. Good with green salad or garlic bread.