My love for capers happened very late in life, once I tried there was no stopping me. The addition of capers in this recipe is match made in heaven. Btw how beautiful is this purple cauliflower I bought at the farmers market. I was happy to see the market open so people could buy the beautiful spring produce grown locally here is NorCal. People were with their masks, gloves and practicing social distancing of course.
The recipe starts with a large head of cauliflower, Broken up and spread out on a parchment lined baking sheet. (Regular white cauliflower works perfectly fine, I use it all the time). Drizzled with olive oil, salt, pepper and roasted for a good 40 minutes till it crisps up and become tender. From there I simply toss it with cooked pasta, capers and all the flavor makers. Feel free to substitute broccoli or Brussels Sprouts for the cauliflower.
Penne with Roasted Cauliflower and Capers, SERVES 4
- 1 large head cauliflower broken into florets
- 8-10 oz penne ( 2-3 oz per person)
- 3 tablespoons capers, drained
- 4 cloves about 1 teaspoon garlic chopped finely, use less if you prefer mild garlic flavor.
- zest from one lemon about a tablespoon
- ¼ cup your best e.v. olive oil + more for drizzling
- ½ cup walnuts chopped
- juice from the lemon as needed
- sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons regular or vegan parmesan cheese, I like Violife vegan parmesan (not sponsored)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the oven to 425° F.
- In a large bowl add the cauliflower florets along with ½ the capers, sea salt and cracked pepper. Toss well and spread it out on a baking sheet.
- Roast for 35-40 minutes till golden with crisp edges. Toss occasionally for even browning.
- Meanwhile Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
- While all thats happening, in a small bowl mix the remaining capers, chopped garlic, lemon zest, a drizzle of olive oil and ¼ cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain. Gently toss the caper mix in the hot pasta, the roasted cauliflower. Squeeze a little lemon juice and extra black pepper and cheese.
- ENJOY..
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