Pasta With Bread Crumbs Pancetta And Cauliflower Recipes

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.

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.

PASTA WITH BREAD CRUMBS, PANCETTA, AND CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta according to package directions; set aside
• 2. Heat 2 tblsp. oil in a large skillet, over medium heat, add pancetta and cook, stirring, until it is lightly browned, but not overcooked...about 4 minutes.
• 3. Remove pancetta from pan, add onions and cook about 2 minutes. Stir in cauliflower florets, cook until lightly browned, 4 minutes. Season lightly with a little salt and a little crushed red pepper flakes, (Go easy on salt, as pancetta is salty).
• 4. Pour chicken stock into skillet, bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender, and liquid is reduced by about one-half....should take about 5 minutes.
• 5. Drain pasta, and combine with sauce and vegetables in skillet. Bring to a simmer, tossing to coat pasta with sauce. Add breadcrumbs and pancetta, stir, and serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Cook pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium-sized saute pan, heat the oil until warm. Since the bread crumbs will cook quickly, you don't want to add them into a hot pan, otherwise they can burn. Add the breadcrumbs and stir constantly. Season lightly with salt and pepper since flavored bread crumbs may already have seasoning. Saute for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Drain pasta in a colander. Working quickly, add pasta to the saute pan and stir to combine. Add Parmesan and the chopped prosciutto. Mix thoroughly. Pour into large serving bowl and garnish with chopped parsley.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH PARMESAN AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch the cauliflower for 2 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to a buttered 9 by 13-inch baking dish and let cool, about 5 minutes.
• In a small skillet over medium-high heat, brown the pancetta. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until combined. Continue stirring for 2 minutes to cook the flour. Slowly add the milk, stirring continuously until the milk has incorporated and there are no lumps. Add the garlic clove and red pepper flakes and stir the sauce over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon. Add the Parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and the reserved pancetta. Stir to combine. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower to cover. Top with a sprinkling of bread crumbs.
• Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden and the cauliflower is cooked, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

SPAGHETTI WITH OLIVES AND BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bread crumbs and 1/4 teaspoon each of the sea salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, cook the breadcrumbs until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Stir the pasta into the bread crumb mixture. Remove the pan from the heat and add the black and green olives. Add the Parmesan cheese and 3 tablespoons of the parsley. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Gently toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Transfer to a large serving bowl and garnish with the remaining parsley.

CAVATELLI WITH PANCETTA & CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil in an 8-quart pot over high heat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta has rendered some of its fat and is lightly browned but still soft in the center, about 4 minutes.
• Don't overcook the pancetta.
• Stir the cavatelli into the boiling water.
• Return to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the onions into the skillet and cook until barely wilted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the cauliflower and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is wilted and begins to brown, about 4 minutes.
• Season lightly with salt and a little crushed red pepper.
• Pour the chicken stock into the skillet, bring to a boil, and lower the heat so the sauce is at a lively simmer.
• Cook until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is reduced by about one-half, about 5 minutes.
• If the skillet is large enough to accommodate the sauce and pasta, fish the pasta out of the boiling water with a large wire skimmer and drop it directly into the sauce in the skillet.
• If not, drain the pasta, return it to the pot, and pour in the sauce.
• Bring the sauce and pasta to a boil, tossing and stirring to coat the pasta.
• Check the seasoning, adding salt if necessary.
• Stir the bread crumbs, parsley, and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pot.
• Cook, stirring and tossing the pasta, until the sauce is lightly thickened.
• Serve at once & enjoy!

SPICY SPAGHETTI WITH PANCETTA AND TOASTED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• In 4-quart saucepan, heat spaghetti and broth just to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until al dente and liquid is almost completely absorbed. Remove from heat; let pasta stand 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add pancetta; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook and stir 1 minute. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until toasted. Remove from heat; set aside.
• Stir cheese and parsley into pasta. Divide pasta among 4 plates; top with pancetta mixture.