Roasted cauliflower becomes sweet as it caramelizes in olive oil with crispy pancetta and penne pasta for a delicious, easy dinner.
In This Post
Can we seriously be in the midst of a cauliflower shortage?
I mean, when was the last time you heard of a cruciferous vegetable becoming so popular it became scarce to find?
Cauliflower. It’s the renaissance vegetable.
As a kid my mom served a lot of vegetables, with each and every dinner. Fresh or frozen, and sometimes even canned. Broccoli. Spinach. Corn. Beans. Carrots. But cauliflower was rarely on the dinner table.
It took a while for me to bother introducing it to my adult repertoire. But I’m so glad I have. Especially when it’s bronzed and caramelized and paired with salty bacon bits and bites of pasta done just right.
About the Recipe
The earthy bite of this recipe comes from the deepened, caramelized flavor the cauliflower gets after being cooked in olive oil. I trim most of the stalks and cut the broccoli into pieces just barely bigger than the pasta. If you can, choose a cauliflower that still has a few green leaves attached to it. They add a sweetness and color to the dish.
The cauliflower is cooked in batches and the garlic is added to the hot cauliflower and cooked for a mere 30 seconds or so, just until it becomes fragrant. If the garlic cooks too much and browns, it will become bitter, so be aware.
I used pre-packaged, already sliced pancetta, then cut it into small pieces before cooking it. If you want fatter chunks, ask your grocer’s deli counter to cut thicker pieces. You could also substitute bacon if you’d like for the salty bite.
Like one of my other favorite pasta dishes—this Crab Spaghetti—the pasta is topped with a crunchy bite of crispy croutons. It adds another texture I totally crave. Use a hardy country bread or sourdough for best results.
I used penne in this pasta but really any pasta you have in your pantry would work just swell.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Penne Pasta With Cauliflower and Pancetta
Ingredients
- 3 slices sourdough bread , cut into ½-inch pieces
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 6 ounces deli sliced pancetta
- 1 head cauliflower , stalks removed and florets cut into ½-inch pieces
- 6 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried chili flakes
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Toss the bread crumbs with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher salt. Toast in the oven until the bread is golden and let cool. Crumble the croutons into small pieces by pouring into a gallon bag and crushing with the bottom of a heavy bottomed pan or a rolling pin.
- Boil the penne pasta in salted water according to package directions and drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a dutch oven or large, high-sided skilled and cook the pancetta slices until cooked through. Transfer to a plate topped with paper towels and drain.
- Heat ⅛ cup of the olive oil in a large dutch oven or high sided fry pan over medium-high heat. Add half of the cauliflower and cook until browned, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add half of the garlic and cook for 30 seconds and season with kosher salt and transfer to a bowl. Repeat the process with the remaining cauliflower and garlic and add to the reserved cauliflower to the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and the chili flakes and stir to coat. Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the penne to the skillet along with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, Parmesan cheese, crushed bread crumbs and cooked pancetta and cook together for 1-2 more minutes. Season with additional kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with Italian parsley and serve.
- Recipe adapted from Franny's Simple Seasonal Italian
#EatSeasonal February
As we have for the past few seasons, Becky of The Vintage Mixer has posted her list of what’s in season to eat now and from that list, has amassed a group of us who are posting #eatseasonal recipes today. Some are some are sweet, some are savory and they’re all in season now. They’re all good and they’re all seasonal and are listed below.
Please hop over to their sites, say hi and enjoy their seasonal inspiration.
Chorizo & Brussels Sprouts Pasta Carbonara by Suitcase Foodist
Citrus, Fennel, and Avocado Salad by Flavor the Moments
Savory Dutch Baby with Roasted Broccoli by Floating Kitchen
Roasted Red Potatoes with Zahatar and Lemon by Project Domestication
Parsnip Hash Browns by Vintage Mixer
Greens and Potato Soup with Hominy and Pinto Beans by Letty’s Kitchen
Rosemary Cheddar Cauliflower Cakes by Food for My Family
Tangerine Sorbet Champagne Floats by Completely Delicious
Mexican Molletes (avocado, bean & cheese melts) by Simple Bites
Honey Mustard Citrus Chicken with Mango Chutney by Kitchen Confidante
Creamed Brussel Sprout Tater Tot Casserole by Climbing Grier Mountain
We’d love to see what you’re eating seasonal now, too. Share your eats and follow the #eatseasonal hashtag on Instagram and Twitter to discover more seasonal eats.
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Laura
WOW! It’s awesome again. I love this
febry
I think my Dad still hates it so my Mom never made it. But I love it! It’s so good when it’s gets those little crispy edges! Gorgeous pasta dish..
Irene L. Medlock
These recipe shoots are awesome . Like these much .
mary clay | the open oven
yum! I’m obsessed with anything cauliflower – I hadn’t heard about the shortage! maybe that explains the price hike…
Laura (A Beautiful Plate)
I LOVE cauliflower any way, but especially in pasta! I haven’t been experiencing the cauliflower shortage in Chicago yet and thankful for that!
Melissa Ramon
Im making this tonight! Thanks
Gaby Dalkin
What a perfect pasta dish! I do agree, It’s so hard to imagine not having cauliflower!! I remember when no one even paid attention to it.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Bring on the pasta! I love nicely caramelized cauliflower. I have a feeling this will be dinner tonight!
Erica@ Erica Everyday
Shortage? That’s crazy!! Darn food trends…though this looks amazing. I just roasted a batch for my weekly meal prep and this might be a perfect way to use it!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
I never had cauliflower growing up either. In fact, I think my Dad still hates it so my Mom never made it. But I love it! It’s so good when it’s gets those little crispy edges! Gorgeous pasta dish, Heidi!
Kari
I could totally believe a shortage of any fruits or veggies. California has been in a drought for so long, its a miracle that our farms are producing anything!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
bc in edmond
this sounds so delicious! in your paragraph “about the recipe” you mention cutting the broccoli – is that in this pasta, too?
marcie
I have no idea why I’ve never tossed roasted cauliflower with pasta — and pancetta! This would be a great way to get my kids on board with cauliflower — it looks amazing!
Laura ~ RYG
Cauliflower and Parm cheese is like batman and robin, like PB & Jelly, like Snoopy and Charlie, like Tom Brady and his ego. I mean, it’s the best. I’m loving your roasted brownish cauliflower, that is the way to go!!! I’m like excited to make this and it’s been a looooog time since I’ve been hyped about making dinner. You rock!!!