Let’s Go Romanesco! Easy Romanesco Pasta with Lemon & Garlic
Pimp up your pasta and have a fabulous weeknight meal that takes no time at all, but feels a little bit special. This seasonal romanesco pasta dish is a taste sensation. It’s quick and simple to make and is also suitable for vegans.
Romanesco, also known as the Roman cauliflower is actually half cauliflower, half broccoli. It looks almost alien with its strange structure and lime green fractal florets. But don’t be put off, it’s one of the tastiest brassicas out there and is perfect for an all Italian late autumn or winter meal. I was inspired by the delicious roasted romanesco at River Cottage a few weeks back and have been experimenting at home with frying it rather than roasting. Its inherent nuttiness is enhanced when fried or roasted. It also has an affinity with garlic, lemon, chilli and almonds. So for this romanesco pasta dish I used all four. Luckily I didn’t have to go to Italy for the romanesco as we grow plenty of them here in Cornwall. It’s always nice to enjoy local produce where possible.
Barilla is Italy’s top selling pasta brand. It uses only top quality durum wheat and water. Oh, and some Italian passion apparently! I was sent a selection of their pasta and sauces to try. For this recipe I went with the wholewheat fusilli; I prefer to eat wholefoods when given the choice. I also like the fun twisty shape and find it holds a tomato sauce very well. The ingredients are %100 whole durum wheat semolina and water – talk about elegant simplicity.
Barilla also make a fantastic Arrabbiata sauce, or what I’d call tomato & chilli sauce. It contains only natural ingredients, is rich and flavoursome with just enough chilli to make its presence felt. Italians are not hot headed, or at least when it comes to chillies.
The romanesco is first steamed, then fried with lemon and garlic. This tops the pasta and tomato sauce. My romanesco pasta is then finished with toasted flaked almonds to make a delicious dish fit for anyone, including vegans. The flaked almonds could, of course, be swapped for some grated Parmesan cheese.
The fusilli pasta was one of the best I’ve tried. I’ve noticed some of the brands go a bit mushy on the outside whilst the inside isn’t quite cooked. The sauce had a good consistency and excellent flavour and the whole dish was truly scrumptious. CT kept telling me just how delicious it was – he’s not generally one for going into raptures.
- 1 small romanesco - rinsed & drained
- pinch sea salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large clove garlic
- ¼ organic lemon - zest and juice
- 20g flaked almonds
- 170g Barilla wholewheat fusilli pasta
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 200g (½ jar) Barilla arrabbiata tomato & chilli sauce
- Trim the romanesco of outer leaves and tough stalk.
- Place in a medium sized pan with a couple of centimetres of boiling water and the pinch of salt. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the romanesco is just tender.
- Dry fry the almonds over a moderate heat, stirring occasionally until golden.
- Remove the romanesco into a colander and allow to drain, then pull apart into florets .
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 11 minutes or until al dante.
- Meanwhile warm the sauce gently in a pan, stirring occasionally until near simmering.
- Heat the oil on a non-stick frying pan. Add the romanesco florets and fry over a moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes - the florets should be just beginning to char. Grate in the lemon zest and add the garlic after the first 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, squeeze in the lemon juice and stir.
- Divide the pasta into 2 bowls. Spoon the sauce over the top, then add the romanesco and finish with the almonds.
- Double the quantities for 4 people.
- If you're really hungry, allow 100g pasta per person instead of 85g.
I’m sending my romanesco pasta to Jac at Tinned Tomatoes for this week’s Meat Free Monday.
It also goes to Katie over at Feeding Boys for Simple and in Season.
Likewise I’m sending my romanesco pasta off to Sneaky Veg and Hijacked by Twins for #CookBlogShare.
And lastly, I think! It goes to A Mummy Too for #recipeoftheweek.
Post commissioned by Barilla. I was not expected to write a positive review and all opinions are, as always, my own. Thanks to my readers for supporting the brands that help to keep Tin and Thyme blythe and blogging.
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janie
5th December 2016
Oh Choclette, that looks just stunning! There is something so magical about Romanesco cauli’s, they have to be one of the most beautiful veggies around.
Janie x
Choclette
5th December 2016
Thanks Janie – love it when you like my pics 😀 Yes, it’s a fantastic looking veg and it tastes so good too.
Katie
5th December 2016
I’ve never cooked with romanesco before, and I really don’t know why!!! Your pasta recipe looks and sounds delicious and perfect for warming everyone up on a winter weeknight 🙂
Choclette
5th December 2016
I think it’s one of those vegetables that takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
5th December 2016
A delightful meal! I would love some for my lunch, Choclette.
Choclette
5th December 2016
Thank you Angie. It’s so very easy to make and sure beats pasta with just tomato sauce.
Kerry @ Kerry Cooks
5th December 2016
Yum! Love the addition of the almonds
Choclette
5th December 2016
Surprisingly, they make quite a bit difference to the final dish – wouldn’t be the same without them 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
5th December 2016
O yes! I love it! It has that subtle sweetness to it but still acts like cauliflower!
Choclette
5th December 2016
It’s a great veg Rebecca, but still so little known.
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe
5th December 2016
That looks really pretty – I love romanescu but find it hard to know how to feature it
Choclette
5th December 2016
Thanks Johanna. I’d never quite known how to either until I had it at River Cottage and I loved the way they served it.
cheri
6th December 2016
This is my kind of meal, love the combo of ingredients. Beautiful presentation!!
Choclette
6th December 2016
Thanks very much cheri. It makes for a most delicious meal with very little effort.
Nico @ yumsome
6th December 2016
I adore romanesco – not just for its taste but because it is such an awesome example of the Fibonacci spiral. Oh, and it’s super-pretty too… it’s almost a shame to cook and eat it, really!
That said, your pasta does look exceedingly yummy, especially with the addition of the lemon. Not sure about that one clove of garlic though…. isn’t one clove what you use to flavour other garlic? LOL!
Choclette
6th December 2016
Hehe, it was a very big clove of garlic Nico – I shall amend 😉
Mel
6th December 2016
Romanesco is so delicious and it adds a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your pasta. Love Barilla. That’s the brand my mum has always bought and it reminds me of my childhood in France!
Choclette
7th December 2016
Absolutely Mel. This was a first for me, trying Barilla, and I’m sold.
Sus // roughmeasures.com
7th December 2016
I don’t use romanesco often enough, I need to use it more as it’s so delicious. Love this tasty looking recipe.
Choclette
7th December 2016
Thanks Sus. It’s really only something I’ve recently started buying on a regular basis – I love it!
Corina
7th December 2016
It sounds delicious and made me realise I have actually never eaten a romanesco! I think that’s certainly something I need to correct soon!
Choclette
7th December 2016
Oh, I think you do Corina. You won’t regret it 🙂
Mandy
7th December 2016
Romanesco is so gorgeous – I almost don’t want to eat it! However, I’d be tempted by your pasta dish as it looks absolutely divine. Thanks for joining in with #CookBlogShare this week.
Choclette
7th December 2016
Thanks Mandy. I do know what you mean. But sometimes needs must 😉
Anca
7th December 2016
I love Romanesco, it looks so interesting, this was the reason why I tried it for the first time. Your pasta dish is looking great, very inviting.
Choclette
7th December 2016
Thanks you Anca. It’s a fabulous looking vegetable 🙂
Eb Gargano / easypeasyfoodie.com
8th December 2016
You don’t see romanesco often enough in recipes! This one looks amazing 🙂 Eb x
Choclette
9th December 2016
Thanks Eb. It’s true, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a recipe for it.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
9th December 2016
I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a romanesco! It’s so beautiful though, I need to give it a go. This sounds like a great way to start – gorgeous flavours 🙂
Choclette
10th December 2016
Thanks Becca. Romanesco is delicious and so easy to cook.
Alix @A Hedgehog in the Kitchen
11th December 2016
This recipe looks divine! I have added it to my favorite “Vegetarian Recipes” board on Pinterest! Thanks so much for sharing this lovely pasta dish. I can’t wait to make it at home!
Choclette
11th December 2016
Thanks Alix. it’s really quite a simple pasta dish but preparing the romanesco like this turns it into something quite special.
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
12th December 2016
Lovely! I bet the lemon compliments the Romanesco perfectly. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Choclette
14th December 2016
Lemons are such a wonderful fruit and they work well in so many dishes.