Warm Fregola Salad with Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Warm Fregola Sarda Salad with Roasted Cauliflower is a Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring toasted pasta pearls, perfectly roasted cauliflower, and a zesty citrus basil vinaigrette. It is a healthy and comforting pasta salad. Serve warm or cold.
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 cup Fregola Sarda pearl pasta
- 1 small head cauliflower cut into small florets
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ cup Castelvertrano green olives pitted and chopped
- 1 cup baby arugula
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted
- 1/4 cup dried cherries optional
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Citrus Basil Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil finely chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Roast the Cauliflower: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the cauliflower florets with a generous amount of olive oil—season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Spread the cauliflower on a baking sheet or baking tray and roast for about 20-25 minutes until tender and lightly browned. Toss them halfway through for even roasting.
- Make the Citrus Basil Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, honey or maple syrup, minced garlic, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Cook Fregola Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the Fregola Sarda according to the package instructions (usually around 10-12 minutes, or until al dente). Drain and add to a large, shallow serving or large mixing bowl.
- Assemble the Salad: In the serving bowl, combine the cooked Fregola Sarda, roasted cauliflower, chopped green olives, and arugula. Drizzle the citrus basil vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat all the ingredients evenly. Add the toasted pine nuts and dried cherries (optional) to the salad and gently toss once more to incorporate.
- Serve: This salad can be served warm or at room temperature. You can garnish with extra fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
Warm Fregola Sarda Salad with Roasted Cauliflower is a Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring toasted pasta pearls, perfectly roasted cauliflower, and a zesty citrus basil vinaigrette. It is a healthy and comforting pasta salad. Serve warm or cold.
Nutrition
Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 439mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 738IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg
