Cavatelli With Roman Cauliflower

Ingredients

• •2 tablespoons salt
• •1 head cauliflower
• •6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• •3 whole shallots
• •1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• •3 fillets anchovies
• •1 pound cavatelli
• •¼ cup pecorino cheese
• •to taste pecorino cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. 1.

   Add 1 tablespoon of the salt and the cauliflower to a large pot of water and bring to a boil over high heat.

   10 min

2. 2.

   Cook for 3 minutes, then remove the cauliflower from the water. Retain the water.

   3 min

3. 3.

   Put half of the cauliflower into a blender along with 1 cup of the cooking water and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Blend until it turns into a puree. This will be the sauce for your pasta. You may need to add more of the cooking water to reach the desired consistency (as loose as tomato puree).

   5 min

4. 4.

   Heat the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the shallots, red pepper flakes, and anchovies. Saute for 1 minute.

   1 min

5. 5.

   Increase the heat to high and add the reserved cauliflower florets. Saute for 2 minutes while stirring.

   2 min

6. 6.

   Add the puree to the pan and saute for 30 to 40 seconds while stirring.

   1 min

7. 7.

   To the pot with the reserved cauliflower cooking water, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of salt, return the water to a boil over high heat, and add the cavatelli. Cook according to the package instructions until al dente, 5 to 8 minutes.

   8 min

8. 8.

   Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta, stir it into the pan with the sauce, and cook everything together for 30 seconds. Add a couple more tablespoons of the pasta cooking water for a looser consistency, if desired.

   2 min

9. 9.

   Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese.

   1 min

10. 10.

    Drizzle each serving with olive oil and serve with extra grated cheese for sprinkling.

    1 min