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Ricette di Sicilia

Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane


Drowned cauliflower

Drowned Cauliflower: A Catanese Side Dish for the Festive Season

Discover drowned cauliflower, a delicious Catanese side dish perfect for the festive season. A traditional recipe to try!

⏱️
Prep Time
15 minutes
🔥
Cook Time
30 minutes
👥
Servings
4 people
📊
Difficulty
Easy
💰 Low
🗓️ Winter
4.9/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 1 medium purple cauliflower
  • 4 spring onions
  • 100 g black olives
  • a handful of anchovies
  • 100 g aged Sicilian pecorino with pepper, cut into pieces
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt
  • 100 ml red wine

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
250 kcal
Protein
8 g
Fat
18 g
Carbohydrates
15 g
Fiber
5 g
Sugars
4 g
Sodium
800 mg

Drowned cauliflower, known in Catania as bastaddi affucati, is a traditional dish from Sicilian cuisine, perfect for the Christmas period. 
This recipe, passed down through generations, combines the bold flavour of purple cauliflower with the salty touch of anchovies and the sweetness of onions, creating a balanced flavour that truly represents Sicilian culinary tradition. 
Ideal for sharing with friends and family, this side dish can easily take centre stage at festive lunches and dinners with its enveloping aroma and festive taste.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Wash and slice the spring onions, pit the black olives, and fillet the anchovies.

  2. 2

    Trim and cut the cauliflower florets into pieces, leaving smaller ones whole and halving the larger ones.

  3. 3

    In a high-sided non-stick pan, place a layer of cauliflower and add the onion, olives, anchovies, and aged pecorino with pepper.

  4. 4

    Season with salt, add a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and extra virgin olive oil.

  5. 5

    Continue creating layers in the same order until all ingredients are used.

  6. 6

    Add a bit of water and cook over low heat for about half an hour without stirring.

  7. 7

    Halfway through cooking, pour in the red wine, cover with a lid, and finish cooking.

  8. 8

    Once cooked, transfer the drowned cauliflower to a serving plate and serve.

💡 Tips and Variations

For a bolder taste, you can add fresh chilli during cooking. Alternatively, try substituting the anchovies with tuna for a milder variation.

📦 Storage

  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • You can freeze the cooked dish for up to a month.
  • Reheat in the oven at 160°C for 10 minutes before serving.

🍷 Pairing

A glass of Eloro Pachino Riserva, with its intense aroma and dry taste, pairs perfectly with the drowned cauliflower, enhancing its Mediterranean flavours.

Thank you for following this traditional Sicilian recipe. Try the drowned cauliflower and let yourself be carried away by the flavours of Sicily, perfect for making any festive occasion special.

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