Recipe: Spaghetti With Cauliflower Anchovy Sauce

This is a unique pasta dish for those who love full-flavored sauces and interesting flavor combinations! While anchovies and cauliflower may sound like an odd combination for a pasta dish, it actually comes together quite well. Relatively simple to make, yet packed with complex flavors, this one may just become a new favorite in your recipe book. Serve with a lighter red wine such as a Merlot or Sangiovese, or a full-bodied white like a good Chardonnay.

Spaghetti With Cauliflower Anchovy Sauce
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

Spaghetti (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 box (1 lb) thin spaghetti
2 tsp salt
3 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 medium size head fresh cauliflower, clean and chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup water
1 oz anchovy fillets, patted dry
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley (packed tight) finely chopped
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

• Put large pot of water on high heat and bring to a boil, add salt, then drop in spaghetti and cook until still a bit solid, but just starting to soften, and drain through a colander over a bowl, reserving the water; return spaghetti to pot and set aside, with cover on to keep warm.
• Put a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 of the tablespoons olive oil.
• Add cauliflower to skillet and 1/4 teaspoon salt; stir and cook 2 or 3 minutes or until starting to brown and soften.
• Add 1/4 cup water to the skillet and cook 3 or 4 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork tender, stirring occasionally. 
• Reduce heat to medium and add anchovies, garlic, and remaining olive oil; cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to break up anchovies into smaller pieces.
• Uncover the big pot containing the drained spaghetti and add parsley, hot cauliflower/anchovy mixture, 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
• Put pot over burner on medium heat and cook 1 or 2 minutes more or until pasta is al dente, stirring well to combine as it cooks.
• Add more of the reserved pasta water if the spaghetti needs to cook more or if the mixtures seems dry.
• Serve hot in pasta bowls with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if desired.