Orecchiette Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Capers & Garlic Breadcrumbs

Orecchiette Pasta

with Roasted Cauliflower, Capers & Garlic Breadcrumbs

2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.
Vegetarian
Our vegetarian recipes contain no meat, poultry, fish, or seafood, but may include eggs, and animal-based dairy products, such as cheese and sour cream, as well as honey.
600 Calories Or Less
All of these delicious recipes come in at 600 calories or less per serving, ideal for those who choose to monitor their caloric intake, without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration recommends a 2000 calorie daily intake for the general population. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
WW Recommended
If you spot the WW logo next to a recipe, get excited! These recipes factor in calories, sugar, saturated fats, and protein to help guide you toward nutritious foods—while still keeping dinner satisfying and delicious. PersonalPoints™ are assigned to recipes on an “as packaged” basis. To learn more about WW (formerly Weight Watchers) visit our partner’s website at WW.com.
Lightyear
Learn more at DisneyCheck.com
Carb Conscious
Our Carb Conscious recipes provide a balanced approach to carbohydrate consumption by replacing refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Our Carb Conscious recipes have 42g or less of net carbohydrates (total carbohydrates minus dietary fiber) per serving, a 25% reduction in net carbs compared to the average Blue Apron recipe served in 2019. Due to the natural variation in size of and contribution of produce in our recipes, some recipes can be badged as Carb Conscious at 45g or less net carbs per serving.

From the Test Kitchen

Orecchiette pasta hails from Puglia in southern Italy. Its name comes from its unique shape, which some say resembles little ears. In this delicious fall recipe, orecchiette’s little dimples pick up the rich, buttery sauce. Its chewy, hearty texture is a wonderful pairing for roasted heirloom cauliflower. Here, purple cauliflower is pictured, but depending on what’s freshest, you may receive orange or green varieties. They’re all in season right now—and they’re all delicious!

Get Cooking
  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    600 Cals (est.)
fresh
ingredients
Orecchiette Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Capers & Garlic Breadcrumbs
Title
time-saving
tips & techniques
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Peel the garlic; thinly slice 2 cloves. Mince the remaining clove; smash with the side of your knife unti it resembles a paste. Using a peeler, remove the yellow rind of the lemon, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind to get 2 teaspoons of zest (or use a zester). Quarter the lemon; remove the seeds. Remove and discard the core of the cauliflower; cut the head into small florets. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Pick the parsley leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Roughly chop the capers.

Roast the cauliflower:
2 Roast the cauliflower:

Place the cauliflower florets on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single, even layer and roast, stirring halfway through, 18 to 20 minutes, or until browned.

Make the garlic breadcrumbs:
3 Make the garlic breadcrumbs:

While the cauliflower roasts, in a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the garlic paste; cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the aromatics:
4 Cook the aromatics:

While the cauliflower continues to roast, in the same pan used to make the garlic breadcrumbs, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the onion, sliced garlic, capers and as much of the crushed pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 4 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

Cook the pasta:
5 Cook the pasta:

Add the orecchiette pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook 9 to 11 minutes, or until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water; drain the pasta thoroughly.

Finish & plate your dish:
6 Finish & plate your dish:

To the pan of aromatics, add the drained pasta, roasted cauliflower, lemon zest, the juice of 2 lemon wedges, butter, Pecorino cheese and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Cook on medium, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes or until the pasta is coated in the sauce and heated through. (If the sauce seems too dry, gradually add the remaining reserved pasta water until it has reached your desired consistency.) Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 dishes. Garnish with the parsley, garlic breadcrumbs and remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Peel the garlic; thinly slice 2 cloves. Mince the remaining clove; smash with the side of your knife unti it resembles a paste. Using a peeler, remove the yellow rind of the lemon, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind to get 2 teaspoons of zest (or use a zester). Quarter the lemon; remove the seeds. Remove and discard the core of the cauliflower; cut the head into small florets. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Pick the parsley leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Roughly chop the capers.

2 Roast the cauliflower:

Place the cauliflower florets on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single, even layer and roast, stirring halfway through, 18 to 20 minutes, or until browned.

Roast the cauliflower:
Make the garlic breadcrumbs:
3 Make the garlic breadcrumbs:

While the cauliflower roasts, in a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the garlic paste; cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

4 Cook the aromatics:

While the cauliflower continues to roast, in the same pan used to make the garlic breadcrumbs, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the onion, sliced garlic, capers and as much of the crushed pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 4 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

Cook the aromatics:
Cook the pasta:
5 Cook the pasta:

Add the orecchiette pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook 9 to 11 minutes, or until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water; drain the pasta thoroughly.

6 Finish & plate your dish:

To the pan of aromatics, add the drained pasta, roasted cauliflower, lemon zest, the juice of 2 lemon wedges, butter, Pecorino cheese and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Cook on medium, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes or until the pasta is coated in the sauce and heated through. (If the sauce seems too dry, gradually add the remaining reserved pasta water until it has reached your desired consistency.) Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 dishes. Garnish with the parsley, garlic breadcrumbs and remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy!

Finish & plate your dish:
Browse Steps
1 of 6