Pappardelle with Cauliflower and Mustard Brown Butter

This is a delicious hearty side dish for these chilly days in early Spring ~ actually, it’s snowing like mad now with 3” on the ground, and a forecast of 6” total of the white stuff before it ends later today.

It wouldn’t be Spring in the Chicago area without a little snow in the forecast!

As for the recipe:

Savory ingredients are here:  chewy, charred cauliflower, fried capers and breadcrumbs, plus browned butter that’s fortified by whole grain mustard.

Pappare, Italian, translates:  to gobble up.  Pappardelle pasta is a broad, flat long ribbon noodle, a cross between tagliatelle and lasagna, in width.  It’s perfect for dishes of this sort.

Roasted cauliflower and fried bread crumbs

“Gobble it up” straight away while it’s piping hot and full-flavored ~ I could easily make a meal of it!

Pappardelle with Cauliflower and Mustard Brown Butter

Adapted

Ingredients:

1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets, stems minced

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt and seasoned pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/3 cup coarse bread crumbs
1 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
5 tablespoons butter
¼ cup whole grain mustard
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces pappardelle pasta
2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley

Method:

Heat oven broiler.
Toss cauliflower with 2 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet.
Broil until charred and tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a high-sided skillet over medium-high heat.
Sauté capers until crisp, 5-6 minutes; transfer to paper towels to drain.
Cook bread crumbs and chile flakes until crisp, 3-4 minutes; transfer to plate.
Wipe skillet clean and melt butter over medium heat, cook until butter is a deep golden brown, 6-8 minutes.
Stir in mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.
Add roasted cauliflower to skillet.
Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
Cook pasta until al dente, about 7 minutes; drain.
Add pasta to skillet with half of the reserved bread crumbs, and half of the parsley; toss well.
Transfer to serving bowl.
Garnish with capers, remaining bread crumbs, and parsley.

Serves 4 

ENJOY!