A few months ago, January to be precise, I was at home working when the doorbell rang.
It’s rare for that to happen so randomly in the middle of a hot January day.
I mean, the holidays are over so everyone in the neighborhood, from firemen to garbage collectors, have already stopped, more than once, selling their usual christmas raffle tickets, and I assume those nice smiling ladies that come by every.single.saturday and just.won’t.quit trying to make me a member of their new age church are off somewhere enjoying their summer vacations.
Since I was expecting no one, I eyed suspiciously through the door hole at the nice guy in a loud red and yellow shirt, with matching pants and cap, a pen and papers in his hand.
Un-asked for packages or letters are not necessarily good news, but then I had to open the door to the poor guy who was standing under the glaring sun; after all, it was the least I could do for someone who has to go around in that clown-like outfit all day.
He was the bearer of a gift.
A wonderful book that a friend sent me as a thank-you after a favor I did for her last year. Life sometimes surprises us with sweet details, like my darling friend.
If you’re thinking how on earth she knew if I had already purchased the book or not, she had called me asking if I thought amazon was reliable in their shipments to the end of the world, that’s where we live of course, and at some point inquired when was the last time I had bought a book from them. So she simply bought me one of the best sellers that were published after that date. Clever girl.
The book needs no introduction, and you can imagine that, being this so unexpected, my only interest was to go through it page by page. It did not dissapoint, it’s full of great sounding recipes. Oddly enough, the first thing I wanted to make was this pasta with cauliflower. Really? Yes really. Cauliflower was my choice instead of breakfast pancakes with peach, smore’s cake or braised short ribs.
Summer has a way of making me eat my vegetables.
And I cannot see a good pesto recipe and not make it. Pesto is another one of my clean-the-fridge recipes, though this one is a bit more sophisticated. But still made in a food processor with simple ingredients and perfect proportions between them.
What can I say? I ate it for two days in a row. And made it twice in two weeks. When you live alone most of the time, that means a lot of servings. It’s an absolute keeper. And I suggest you do the same. Make it once and keep it in your files forever.
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LINGUINI WITH CAULIFLOWER PESTO
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Ingredients
- 1 pound 450g fresh cauliflower
- 1 medium shallot
- 1– inch piece red chile (seeded, or pinch of red pepper flakes)
- ½ cup toasted almonds
- 2 0 z. (60g asiago cheese)
- 4 sun-dried tomatoes (dry variety)
- 1 Tbs drained capers
- 2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- 1 pound 450g linguini
- Extra asiago cheese (grated, for serving)
- A few parsley leaves (for serving)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, put sun dried tomatoes and add boiling water to cover. Let stand 5minutes to soften, then drain and chop coarsely.
- Rinse the cauliflower, cut off the leaves and hard stalks. Cut the rest into chunks, and put in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade.
- Process until the size of couscous (as Deb says). The size will be somewhat irregular. Transfer to a bowl.
- Put a large pot of water to boil for cooking the pasta. The more water you put, the better the pasta will cook.
- Without rinsing the bowl of the processor, add the shallots, chile or pepper flakes, almonds, cheese, drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, capers and parsley.
- Process until they’re as fine as the cauliflower.
- Add oil and vinegar and pulse until a paste forms. If you feel it’s too dry for your taste, add another Tbs olive oil.
- Transfer to the bowl with the cauliflower, check for salt and pepper and add more if necessary.
- When the water is about to boil, add a generous amount of salt (coarse salt is best), let it come to a boil and add the linguini. Cook until al dente, following the amount of time it says in the package.
- Drain and transfer to a serving bowl or divide among individual plates.
- Add half of pesto and mix gently. Add the remaining pesto, sprinkle with grated cheese, a few parsley leaves and serve immediately.
- If you don’t use all the pesto, keep refrigerated in a covered container.
barely adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, by Deb Perelman
Jen @JuanitasCocina says
March 29, 2013 at 14:46I have this book, but must have glossed over this fabulous recipe. Adding it to next week's list. Mmmmmm…
Jeannie Tay says
March 29, 2013 at 14:56What wonderful looking dish, wish I have that book too!
Marlene Baird says
March 29, 2013 at 15:13Wow, that looks simply amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Anne @ Webicurean says
March 29, 2013 at 16:29I love all things pesto–I can't wait to try this!
Susan says
March 29, 2013 at 18:08How funny, Paula – I have that cookbook and must have skipped right over this recipe! I'm forwarding your post to my mom, though, because I know she's love this.
Have a wonderful Easter!
yummychunklet says
March 29, 2013 at 18:44I love Smitten Kitchen recipes. This looks like a winner.
Kristina @ spabettie says
March 29, 2013 at 21:29one of my favorite books to just sit and read through… such deliciousness. what a fun gift to receive!
I need to make this, I love cauliflower! sundried tomatoes and capers go so well together too – this sounds fantastic.
Deb says
March 29, 2013 at 21:46I adore the Smitten Kitchen cookbook! But my family did not like this recipe. Perhaps it was the raw cauliflower? And I sure don't recall that my pasta looked as delicious as it does in your photo!
thelittleloaf says
March 29, 2013 at 22:11What a gorgeous recipe! I really really want a copy of the Smitten Kitchen cookbook – will definitely be making this!
Renee says
March 29, 2013 at 22:36If you only knew how much I love cauliflower. My husband is right there with me. Thank you VERY much for sharing this recipe. What a great pasta and I'll have to make it soon. #cauliflowerloversunite
Carol | a cup of mascarpone says
March 29, 2013 at 22:43This gorgeous pasta is like torture right now…since it's dinner time! Just beautiful, Paula! Happy Easter!!!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
March 29, 2013 at 22:58So many good cauliflower recipes around lately! Thanks for sharing!
Liz Berg says
March 30, 2013 at 01:07I have this cookbook, too…and am so glad you made this recipe! I have barely cracked it open and now you've motivated me to try a few recipes. I know I'd love this one!!! Happy Easter, my friend!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
March 30, 2013 at 07:26Paula,
What a lovely surprise!! I love getting packages. . and I have yet to get this cookbook!! AH! I need to order it now! Your writing is hilarious! Poor delivery guy has to wear red and yellow?
Oh my gawd, this pasta looks so good!! I can't wait to try this! the cauliflower pesto looks and sounds delicious!
Eftychia DreamofCakes says
March 30, 2013 at 11:58Delicious recipe! Perfect for this time of year!
Laura Dembowski says
March 30, 2013 at 19:41What a sweet friend! I am amazed at how thoughtful people can be. It is so nice when they surprise you. Cauliflower pesto sounds incredible!
Abby says
March 30, 2013 at 21:14yum!! This looks delicious, and I love her cookbook, it inspires such great dishes.
Cakelaw says
March 30, 2013 at 22:49This pasta sounds really good. I am guilty of owning this book but not using it.
Gourmet Getaways says
March 30, 2013 at 23:45Oh how lucky are you… I love receiving packages in the mail!!
This recipe looks so delicious!!! I love cauliflower and pesto so I will have to try it 🙂
Bam's Kitchen says
March 31, 2013 at 02:01Hello Paula, I came over to visit from Uru's guest post. Loving this pasta with all those comfort flavors and stunning photography. Looking forward to keeping in touch. Take care, BAM