Parmigiano Crusted Rigatoni With Cauliflower Recipes

PARMIGIANO-CRUSTED CAULIFLOWER WITH AGLIATA

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a medium bowl, toss the bread with enough water to really moisten it up; you want it almost soggy. Then squeeze out the excess water, and place the bread, vinegar and garlic in a food processor and puree until smooth. While the machine is still running, drizzle in the olive oil and process until combined. Add the chives and parsley, and pulse a few more times to combine. Season with salt and more vinegar, if you like (I like a very bright, acidic dipping sauce). Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl.
• For the cauliflower: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl of well-salted water with ice, and line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Toss the cauliflower in the boiling water. When the water returns to a boil, cook the cauliflower for 2 more minutes, then drain and immediately plunge the cauliflower in the ice water. When the cauliflower is cool, drain and lay it out to dry on the prepared baking sheet.
• In a large saucepan, pour enough peanut oil to fill the pan 1 1/2 to 2 inches up the sides. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. To see if it's hot enough, drop some flour into it. If the flour sizzles and floats quickly, you're good to go. If the flour burns or the oil begins to smoke, it's too hot, so reduce the heat.
• Set up standard breading procedure: one bowl of the flour, one bowl for the eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons water, and one for the breadcrumbs and Parm. Then place a couple layers of paper towels on a baking sheet next to the stovetop. When the oil is hot, dredge some cauliflower in the flour and shake off the excess, then dip it in the egg mixture, and finally through the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat this process for the remaining cauliflower.
• Working in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan, fry the cauliflower until brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to the paper towels, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot, hot and hot with the agliata sauce.

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!

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER RIGATONI PASTA

Steps:

• In a large, deep pan or skillet, add a few teaspoons of olive oil then add the onion.
• Sauté until soft and translucent then add the garlic, thyme and chilli flakes. Cook for another minute then add the chopped cauliflower.
• Sauté until the cauliflower starts to soften then pour in the stock or water.
• Season with salt and pepper then reduce the heat and partially cover with a lid. Allow the cauliflower to cook until completely soft.
• Pour in the cream, allow to simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• In a frying pan set over medium high heat, melt the butter.
• Add the garlic and breadcrumbs then cook, tossing regularly, until the breadcrumbs are crisp and golden.
• Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
• Once boiling, add the rigatoni and cook for 9-11 minutes, or until al dente.
• Reserve 1 cup of cooking water then drain.
• Toss the pasta with the cauliflower sauce and add a splash of the cooking water, if necessary.
• Serve the creamy cauliflower rigatoni in bowls and top with the crispy breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER PASTA WITH PECORINO BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pasta pot filled with salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente; drain and reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they're evenly toasted and golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add 1/4 cup pecorino and toss to coat, letting the cheese melt and clump among the bread crumbs (think granola-like clusters). Remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl or plate; set aside.
• Wipe out the skillet and heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add shallot and cauliflower and season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the cauliflower has completely softened and both the cauliflower and shallots are beginning to caramelize and brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Add heavy cream and 1 tablespoon lemon zest and bring to a simmer, then let the cream reduce and thicken, 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and plenty of pepper; if pasta is still cooking, remove from heat and set aside until pasta is ready.
• Return the skillet to medium heat and add the pasta to the cauliflower, along with the remaining 1/4 cup pecorino and 3/4 cup of the pasta water. Cook, tossing to coat the pasta and thicken the sauce until it's thick and glossy, and almost resembles macaroni and cheese, adding more pasta water by the tablespoon as needed, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Divide pasta among bowls and top with pecorino bread crumbs, chives, more lemon zest, red-pepper flakes (if using) and more cheese if you like.

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.

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.