Fresh Cavatelli with Cauliflower
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta pot
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 7 plump garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon peperoncino flakes, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 large head cauliflower, cut in small florets
- 1 batch (1 1/2 pounds) Fresh Cavatelli (page 275), or 1 pound dried pasta
- 1 cup freshly grated pecorino (or half pecorino and half Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, for a milder flavor)
- A large pasta pot; a heavy-bottomed skillet or saute pan, 12-inch diameter or larger
- Fill the large pot with salted water (at least 6 quarts water with 1 tablespoon salt), and heat to a boil.
- Pour the olive oil into the skillet, set over medium-high heat, and scatter in the sliced garlic.
- Let the garlic start to sizzle, then toss in the peperoncino and parsley; stir and cook for a minute.
- Ladle in a cup of the pasta cooking water, stir well, and adjust the heat to keep the liquid in the skillet simmering and reducing gradually while you cook the cauliflower and pasta.
- With the pasta water at a rolling boil, drop in the cauliflower florets, and cook them for about 3 minutes, until barely tender.
- Drop in the cavatelli, stir, and return the water quickly to a boil.
- Cook another 4 to 5 minutes, until the cauliflower is fully tender and the pasta is al dente (if you are using dried pasta, it will, of course, take longer).
- Lift out the florets and cavatelli with a spider or strainer, drain briefly, and spill them into the skillet.
- Toss well, to coat all the pasta and vegetable pieces with the garlicky dressing, then turn off the heat, sprinkle the grated cheese over the skillet, and toss again.
- Heap the cauliflower and cavatelli in warm bowls, and serve immediately.
kosher salt, extravirgin olive oil, garlic, peperoncino flakes, fresh italian parsley, head cauliflower, batch, freshly grated pecorino, pasta
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/fresh-cavatelli-with-cauliflower-372351 (may not work)