It’s been quite a couple of weeks here in LA. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably heard about the devastating wildfires. LA is a very large city, so we were never in immediate danger, but we do know people who were affected. One couple had to evacuate because of a fire near the Hollywood Hills. Our primary doctor was at work when the fire started; thankfully, his home is okay, though it likely sustained smoke damage. His dog sitter evacuated his dog. He hasn’t been able to return home yet, so he’s been couch surfing and buying temporary clothes at TJ Maxx. Thousands of homes have been burned to the ground.
Beyond the fires themselves, everyone has been on edge. The air quality has been poor throughout the LA basin, prompting people to stay indoors. I read that restaurants are struggling because everyone is staying home, but many have pivoted to making meals for first responders. It seems like every food truck in LA has headed to the impacted areas to feed firefighters and evacuees at shelters. In just the last few days, things have calmed down, and the air is finally clear. We’ve received calls and messages from friends and family across the U.S. and even from Italy, checking in on us.
The truth is, people live in LA (and California in general) because of the weather and access to natural beauty. Yes, we do deal with a lot of fires, mudslides, and earthquakes. We even had a tropical storm last August. But all of that seems worth it for the warm winters, low humidity, and proximity to beaches, mountains, and deserts. Beyond the challenges, the past couple of weeks have shown the incredible kindness and resilience of the community. Donation drives, offers of food, clothing, and housing are everywhere. People often think of LA as a place of bad behavior and big egos, but in times like these, you really see the good nature of people come through in force.
Closer to home, most of the farmers’ markets are open, and we’ve been shopping as usual. This time of year can be a bit monotonous in terms of produce: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, romanesco, and cauliflower—all members of the brassica family. I’m completely sick of kale, and I’ve roasted all these vegetables every way imaginable. Determined to try something new, I came up with a fresh idea.
I figured pasta is always a good choice, so here’s my entry into the “I’m sick of winter vegetables” contest: roasted cauliflower, crispy pancetta, and sautéed red onions, all stirred together with pasta and Parmesan cheese. Yum!
Fear not—springtime is just around the corner.
Pasta with Cauliflower and Pancetta
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 oz pancetta, cut into small cubes
- ½ red onion, sliced
- 1 small head cauliflower, broken into florets
- 4 oz short dry pasta, such as ziti
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Add the pancetta and 1 tbsp of olive oil to a cold small frying pan. Place over low heat and gently cook until the fat renders out into the pan, stirring as needed. Add more olive oil if the pan drys out.
- Add the sliced red onions to the same pan along with a pinch of salt. Stir then cover the pan and cook until the onions are wilted, stirring occasionally.
- Toss the cauliflower florets in olive oil and salt. Place on a small sheet pan covered with parchment paper and roast for about 20 minutes. Toss midway through to even out the cooking.
- Meanwhile cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Add a little of the pasta water to the pan with the pancetta and onions to loosen the tasty brown bits.
- Finally, in a separate bowl, add the drained pasta, the pancetta/onion mixture and the hot roasted cauliflower. Add the cheese, a grind of black pepper and a tablespoon or more the pasta water. Toss together for about 30 seconds to let the pasta absorb the flavors.
- Serve with more cheese as you like.