Orecchiette with Cauliflower, Shrimp, and Red Pepper Oil Recipe

Orecchiette with Cauliflower, Shrimp, and Red Pepper Oil Recipe

  • 1½ pounds medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • Grinding of black pepper
  • Pinch of crushed dried red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound orecchiette or other thick pasta shape like radiatore or large shells
  • 1 medium head cauliflower, broken into florets and cut into ½-to ¾-inch pieces
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced thin
  • ½ teaspoon crushed dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • ¼ cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
  1. Combine the shrimp, oil, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, black and red pepper; toss to blend. Cover and marinate 1 to 24 hours.
  2. Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water until half cooked, about 10 minutes; add the cauliflower and cook with the pasta until both are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Ladle out ½ cup of the pasta cooking liquid; reserve. Drain the pasta.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the ½ cup oil in a medium skillet over low heat; stir in the garlic; saute until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the red pepper; saute 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
  4. Heat another skillet over medium heat; add the shrimp and marinade and stir-fry until shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  5. In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta and the cauliflower with the reserved pasta cooking liquid, red pepper oil, the cooked shrimp, and the parsley. Serve at once.