Charred cauliflower pasta with pumpkin seed pesto
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Serves 2
Ingredients
- 400g cauliflower florets
- 75ml olive oil, plus 4 tbsp
- 180g pasta
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 garlic cloves, 2 crushed, 1 left whole
- pinch of chilli flakes
- 75g pumpkin seeds
- 35g hard cheese (pecorino, parmesan or vegetarian alternative)
- small bunch of roughly chopped soft herbs (such as parsley or basil)
- ½ lemon, zested and juiced
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the cauliflower florets with 2 tbsp of the olive oil on a baking tray. Season. Roast on the top shelf of the oven for 25 mins until the florets are slightly charred. Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a mug of cooking water.
- STEP 2
Fry the onion in 2 tbsp olive oil over a medium heat for 5 mins. Stir in the crushed garlic and chilli flakes, and cook for 1 min more until fragrant.
- STEP 3
Blitz the pumpkin seeds, hard cheese, whole garlic clove, herbs and 75ml olive oil in a mini food processor until finely chopped. Season. Tip the cauliflower, pasta, pesto and a splash of the reserved water into the pan with the onion, stir, season and add a splash of lemon juice. Sprinkle over a pinch of lemon zest to serve.
