Fregola with Minted Cauliflower

This terrific vegetarian entrée features fregola. Mourad Lahlou likes making the dish with seasonal heirloom tomatoes baked in salt; roasted grape tomatoes are a fine substitute. Slideshow:  More Amazing Vegetarian Dishes 

Fregola with Minted Cauliflower
Photo: © Kamran Siddiqi
Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Yield:
4

Ingredients

  • 1/2 head of cauliflower

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • Salt

  • 1/2 pint grape tomatoes

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 1/2 cups fregola

  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth

  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 1/4 cup mint leaves, torn

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grate half of the cauliflower on the large holes of a box grater, stopping when you reach the stems; you should have about 1 cup of grated cauliflower that resembles coarsely grated parmesan. Finely chop the stems and the remaining cauliflower; you should have about 2 cups.

  2. In a saucepan, add the chopped cauliflower, cream, water and 2 tablespoons of the butter; season with salt. Cover and cook over moderate heat until the cauliflower is tender and the liquid is nearly evaporated, 8 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a food processor and puree until very smooth. Wipe out the saucepan and return the puree to it; keep warm.

  3. In a small baking dish, toss the tomatoes with the olive oil. Roast for about 10 minutes, just until the skins begin to burst.

  4. Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the fregola and cook until al dente. Drain the fregola and return it to the pot. Add the vegetable broth, the crushed red pepper and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and cook over low heat, stirring until the sauce is creamy. Stir in the grated cauliflower and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the mint.

  5. Spoon the cauliflower puree onto plates. Top with the fregola and roasted tomatoes and serve immediately.

Suggested Pairing

Clean, lemony Soave.

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