Pasta Piselli
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 Vidalia or white onion
- 3 anchovies, optional
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup good-quality white wine
- Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 2 cups fresh or frozen peas
- 12 Roma tomatoes, blanch, de-skinned, seeded, and chopped
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1 pound Penne Rigate pasta
- Freshly grated Parmesan or Romano
- Fill a large stockpot with cold water and place over high heat.
- Pour olive oil in a large saucepan and turn the flame on low.
- Mince the garlic and add to olive oil, let cook until just starting to brown.
- Slice the onion and add to the garlic and olive oil.
- Add 3 anchovies to the pan and mash them until they disintegrate.
- Next, add the vegetable broth and white wine.
- Turn the flame up to medium-low, and allow the broth and wine mixture to reduce for a couple minutes.
- Take the head of cauliflower and peel away the green leaves.
- Cut off the stalks and discard.
- Chop the cauliflower crowns into bite-sized pieces, set aside.
- Add the chopped cauliflower to the onion/garlic mixture, and season with red pepper flakes, to taste.
- Reduce the heat back to medium, and let the cauliflower cook, stirring frequently.
- Snap the asparagus in half and cut into bite size pieces on the diagonal.
- Add the asparagus and the peas and cook for about 5 minutes.
- When the asparagus is almost tender, add the tomatoes.
- The tomatoes should stay chunky, so do not cook too long, or stir the sauce too much because the tomatoes tend to fall apart.
- Add toasted almonds and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Remove from heat.
- When the pasta water comes to a rolling boil, add some salt and then the pasta.
- Keep the heat on high.
- Cook pasta until firm to the bite, al dente.
- Drain and transfer pasta to a warm bowl.
- Sprinkle with olive oil, and gently toss.
- Then add the sauce and gently toss again.
- Garnish with Parmesan or Romano and serve.
extravirgin olive oil, garlic, vidalia, anchovies, vegetable broth, white wine, red pepper, cauliflower, asparagus, peas, tomatoes, slivered almonds, rigate, romano
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pasta-piselli-recipe.html (may not work)