Description
A vibrant and flavorful vegan pasta dish combining tender cauliflower florets with spicy rose harissa, juicy cherry tomatoes, and briny green olives. This olive, cauliflower & harissa pasta is a wholesome, dairy-free meal perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner or entertaining guests with its aromatic and colorful ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Flavorings
- 1 small cauliflower, broken into small florets, stalks and leaves finely chopped
- 200g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 25g pitted green olives, halved
- small handful of parsley, finely chopped
Other Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 tbsp rose harissa
- 150g dairy-free wholemeal pasta of your choice (such as pappardelle; gluten-free if needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower: Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower florets, stalks, and leaves along with a pinch of seasoning. Cover the pan and fry for 8-10 minutes, occasionally shaking the pan to ensure even cooking, until the cauliflower is lightly browned and softened.
- Add tomato purée and tomatoes: Stir in the tomato purée and halved cherry tomatoes. Cover the pan again and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the tomatoes have burst and released their juices, creating a rich base.
- Incorporate garlic, olives, and harissa: Add the crushed garlic cloves, halved green olives, and rose harissa to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is fragrant and well combined.
- Cook the pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the wholemeal pasta following the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a mugful of the cooking water.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Stir the cooked pasta into the pan with the tomato and cauliflower mixture. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce as needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Garnish and serve: Scatter the finely chopped parsley over the pasta for a fresh finishing touch. Serve immediately while warm and aromatic.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, choose gluten-free pasta.
- Adjust the amount of harissa to your preferred spice level.
- You can substitute green olives with black olives if preferred for a milder flavor.
- If dairy-free pasta is not available, use any wholemeal pasta to keep the dish wholesome.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency to your liking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: olive pasta, cauliflower pasta, harissa recipe, vegan pasta, dairy-free pasta, spicy pasta, Mediterranean pasta dish
