Pasta with Cauliflower, Messina Style
Sicilian pasta dish combining short pasta with mashed cauliflower cooked creamy-risotto style. Salted anchovies dissolve into olive oil with garlic, binding the cauliflower and pasta together with reserved cooking water. Finished with grated Parmesan and cracked pepper for a humble, deeply flavored preparation.
Ingredients
- 11 oz sedani rigati or other short pasta, driedorecchiette1:1pasta
medium shell pasta works well as substitute
- 1 medium head cauliflower, whole
- 1 clove garlic, whole
- 2 salted anchovies, cleaned and desaltedanchovy paste1 tsp per 2 filletscondimentadds fish
adjust salt accordingly
- extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cups Parmesan cheese, grated
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Clean the cauliflower, remove outer leaves and trim the core.
- 2
Cut into florets and boil in salted water.
- 3
Drain, reserving the cooking water, then mash with a fork.
- 4
Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan and dissolve the desalted anchovies.
- 5
Add the cauliflower and cook for a few minutes to infuse flavors.
- 6
Add pasta to the pan and gradually incorporate spoonfuls of reserved cauliflower cooking water, stirring constantly as you would for risotto, until pasta is cooked.
- 7
Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with grated Parmesan, and serve.
Tips
Reserve cauliflower cooking water before draining; its starch helps create the creamy consistency.
Desalt anchovies by rinsing gently to preserve their flavor while removing excess salt.
Add cooking water gradually, stirring constantly, to achieve the characteristic creamy texture without adding cream.
Good to Know
Best served immediately. Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 2 days but the creamy texture diminishes.
Prepare cauliflower florets and desalt anchovies up to 1 day ahead. Cook the dish just before serving.
Serve directly from a warm serving dish or plate immediately.
Common Mistakes
Fail to reserve cauliflower water to avoid a dry, gluey pasta dish
Oversalt at the beginning since anchovies contribute saltiness; adjust seasoning at the end
Skip the gradual water addition to avoid mushy or unevenly cooked pasta
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
medium shell pasta works well as substitute
adjust salt accordingly