Pennette With Cauliflower Ragu

Out of Reader's Digest

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  medium cauliflower (about 2 lbs)
• 1⁄4  oil  oil
• 1  medium  white onion, cut into 1/4 inch dice
• 3  garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
•  sea salt (Maldon or flaky sea salt)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes
• 6  tablespoons  unsaleted butter, cut into 6 pieces
•  kosher salt
• 1  lb penne
• 3⁄4 cup  fresh grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, plus extra for serving
• 1⁄2 cup  coarse  fresh breadcrumb, sauteed until golden brown
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  minced fresh rosemary

Directions

1. 1. Halve cauliflower. Remove leaves and cut out core and reserve. Cut cauliflower into small bite-size florets, reserving stalks. Chop core, leaves and stalks.
2. 2. Combine oil, onion, garlic, and cauliflower core, leaves, and stalks in large pot, season with sea salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until leaves are just beginning to wilt, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until leaves are just tender, 18-20 minutes.
3. 3. Add cauliflower florets, red pepper flakes, and 1 cup water and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to gently simmer, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is almost falling apart, 22-25 minutes. Add butter, stirring gently until it melts; season well with sea salt. Remove from heat.
4. 4. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in large pot and add 3 tablespoons kosher salt. Drop pasta and cook until just al dente.
5. 5. Drain pasta, reserrving about 2/3 cup pasta water. Add pasta and 1/3 cup reserved water to ragu. Toss over medium heat until pasta is well coated (add more pasta water to thin sauce). Stir in cheese.
6. 6. Transfer pasta to serving bowl, sprinkle with bread crumbs and rosemary, and serve with additional grated cheese.