Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic, and Walnuts

The problem with this dish isn’t the vegetables or pasta. It’s the sauce.

A cookbook recipe exclusively for ATK Essential members from The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook

YIELD 4

The Complete Vegetarian CookbookA cookbook recipe exclusively for ATK Essential members from The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook

Why This Recipe Works

Gather Your Ingredients

Key Equipment

Key Equipment - Measuring Spoons
Key Equipment - The Best Chef’s Knives for $75 or Less

Before You Begin

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This dish is best with short molded pasta, such as fusilli, campanelle, or orecchiette. Prepare the cauliflower for roasting after you put the garlic in the oven; this way, both should finish roasting at about the same time. In order for this recipe to be gluten-free, you must use gluten-free pasta.

Instructions

1.

Adjust oven rack to middle position, place large rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 500 degrees.

2.

Cut one 12-inch sheet of foil and spread flat on counter. Place garlic heads, cut-side up, in center of foil. Drizzle ½ teaspoon oil over each head and seal packet. Place packet on oven rack and roast until garlic is very tender, about 40 minutes. Open packet and set aside to cool.

3.

While garlic is roasting, trim outer leaves of cauliflower and cut stem flush with bottom. Cut head from pole to pole into 8 equal wedges. Place cauliflower in large bowl; toss with 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, and sugar.

4.

Remove baking sheet from oven. Carefully transfer cauliflower to baking sheet and spread into even layer, placing cut sides down. Return baking sheet to oven and roast until cauliflower is well browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer cauliflower to cutting board. When cool enough to handle, chop into rough ½-inch pieces.

5.

While cauliflower roasts, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta; cook until al dente. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from their skins into small bowl. Using fork, mash garlic to smooth paste, then stir in red pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Slowly whisk in remaining 1/4 cup oil.

6.

Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water, and return pasta to pot. Add chopped cauliflower to pasta; stir in garlic sauce, ¼ cup cooking water, parsley, and ½ cup cheese. Adjust consistency with additional cooking water and season with salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice to taste. Serve immediately, sprinkling with remaining ½ cup cheese and toasted nuts.

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