The Baked Pasta and Cauliflower is a tasty and flavorful main dish that’s easy to prepare and will be loved by everyone.
A classic of Italian cuisine that enhances the full flavor of this seasonal vegetable.
For a vegetarian version, you can easily omit the anchovy paste.
You might also be interested in these other recipes of mine:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 2
- Cooking methods: Stove, Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients
- 8 oz cauliflower
- 160 pasta (short pasta like penne or rigatoni)
- 1 cup cup béchamel sauce
- 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (grated)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp anchovy paste (or three canned anchovies)
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
Tools
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Pot
- 1 Baking Dish
- 1 Stove
- 1 Oven
Steps
First, cut the cauliflower into florets and rinse them under running water.
In a large non-stick pan add a tablespoon of oil, the peeled and crushed garlic clove, and the anchovy paste, and sauté for a few minutes.
Add the cauliflower florets to the pan, sauté for a few minutes then add half a glass of water. Lightly salt, add a grind of pepper, cover with a lid, and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft when pierced with a fork (cooking time will depend on the size of the florets).
If necessary, add more water to complete cooking.
Meanwhile, prepare the béchamel following the procedure you find HERE, or you can use ready-made béchamel.
Put a pot on the stove with plenty of salted water to cook the pasta which will be drained very al dente.
Drain the pasta directly into the pan with the cauliflower, sauté for a few minutes to flavor it well, then transfer it to a baking dish previously coated with a little béchamel.
Pour the béchamel over the pasta, covering it completely.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and place in a preheated oven, in fan mode at 356°F (180°C), and bake the pasta for about 25-30 minutes or until a nice crust forms on the surface.
If you prefer, you can switch to grill mode for the last few minutes.
