Description
This Romanesco Cauliflower Pasta with Olives, Capers, and Parsley is a vibrant and flavorful dish that combines the unique taste of romanesco or cauliflower with the briny goodness of olives and capers, all tossed in a light olive oil dressing and fresh parsley.
Ingredients
1 large head of romanesco or cauliflower (roughly 1.5 to 2 lbs)
2 heaping tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
3 large cloves garlic finely chopped
½ cup pitted kalamata olives sliced lengthwise
2 tablespoons capers roughly chopped
large pinch red pepper flakes
1 heaping cup Italian parsley leaves chopped plus more for garnishing
1 lb dried linguini or fettuccine pasta
grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the romanesco or cauliflower, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in the olives, capers, and parsley, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Drain the pasta, reserving a bit of the cooking water, and add it to the skillet with the cauliflower mixture.
- Toss everything together, adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a splash of pasta water to create a sauce.
- Serve hot, garnished with additional parsley and grated parmigiano-reggiano on top.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, omit the parmigiano-reggiano or use a dairy-free alternative. Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your heat preference.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Course
- Method: sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: Romanesco Cauliflower Pasta, Olives, Capers, Parsley, Pasta Recipe, Vegetarian Pasta, Healthy Dinner