Prepare Authentic Sicilian Pasta and Cauliflower at Home
Cauliflower pasta is one of the most popular Sicilian dishes and an excellent way to consume cauliflower, a seasonal vegetable. The pasta is enveloped in a creamy cauliflower sauce and flavored with anchovies, pine nuts, and raisins.
Ingredients
- 100 g raisins
- 1 sachet of saffron
- 1 large cauliflower
- 1 onion
- 6 anchovies in oil
- 4 cloves of garlic
- Olive oil
- 50 g pine nuts
- Black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
- 400 g pasta
- Toasted breadcrumbs
- Grated Caciocavallo optional
Instructions
- Soak the raisins and saffron in water.
- Wash the cauliflower, remove the stem, and cut into small pieces.
- Cook in boiling water for about 20 minutes in a large pot that can also contain the pasta.
- Meanwhile, dice the onion and anchovies and crush the garlic.
- Add abundant olive oil to a large pan and heat over medium heat.
- Add onion, anchovies, and garlic and sauté for 3–4 minutes, until anchovy fillets melt into the oil.
- Once the raisins soften, add them to the pan along with the saffron and its soaking water, pine nuts, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Transfer the cooked cauliflower to the sauté pan, add salt to taste, and allow to brown for about 10 minutes, mashing it slightly with a fork as you stir, until you reach a creamy consistency.
- Cook the pasta in the cauliflower cooking water, reserving a cup of cooking water to add to the sauce to make it creamier.
- Drain the al dente pasta directly into the pan and cook for a few seconds, thoroughly combining the pasta with the cauliflower sauce.
- Serve in dishes, sprinkling with toasted breadcrumbs or grated Caciocavallo cheese (optional).
- Enjoy your homemade Sicilian pasta and cauliflower while it’s hot!