Orecchiette Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Capers & Garlic Breadcrumbs

Orecchiette Pasta

with Roasted Cauliflower, Capers & Garlic Breadcrumbs

2 Servings
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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!

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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    600 Cals (est.)
fresh
ingredients
Orecchiette Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Capers & Garlic Breadcrumbs
Title
time-saving
tips & techniques
Panko Breadcrumbs
Red Onion
step-by-step
instructions
Cook Along Triangle Created with Sketch.
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

Orecchiette Pasta

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:
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