Recipe for Pasta with Blistered Cauliflower, Walnuts, Pecorino, and Mint
Movie Quotes.
In the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral, Scarlett, the sassy best friend and roommate to Hugh Grant’s Charlie, arrives at the first wedding in vibrant orange dress with a grape-purple sash. When the boisterous, larger-than-life Gareth sees her after the wedding, he quips, “Scarlet, what a fabulous dress! The ecclesiastical purple and the pagan orange symbolizing the magical symbiosis in marriage between the heathen and Christian traditions?” She looks up at him, cocks her head, and responds, “That’s right.”
Nope. None of that has to do with food, but it’s one of my favorite movie quotes. And the quote goes well with the photos, right?
The recipe for Pasta with Blistered Cauliflower, Walnuts, Pecorino, and Mint is straight from The New York Times without a single change or note. (Okay, a few minor tweaks… I can’t help myself.) It was featured in an article about quick pasta dishes for which the sauce can be made while the pasta cooks. And quick it is! The recipe calls for broccoli or cauliflower, and I chose this gorgeous purple cauliflower because it was fresh at the farmers market, it’s incredibly sweet, and the color is stunning.
~ David
Pasta with Blistered Cauliflower, Walnuts, Pecorino, and Mint
1head cauliflowerflorets cut small and stalks peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1lemonzested then quartered
1/2cupgrated Pecorino Romanoplus more for serving
1cuppacked fresh mint leaves
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer walnuts to a small bowl. Season walnuts with a little salt and pepper.
Add the cauliflower and chile flakes to the skillet and toss to coat in the oil. Shake the skillet so cauliflower settles in an even layer. Cook, undisturbed, 2 minutes. Toss and shake to arrange in an even layer again and cook, undisturbed, another 2 to 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
Drain pasta and add to the skillet along with the lemon zest, cheese, toasted walnuts, and half the mint; toss to combine. Divide among plates or bowls and top with remaining mint, more cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon on top.
Wow! Saturday night here with my favourite architectural show on TV – but when I saw your ‘headline’ the latter was turned off 🙂 ! A beautiful cheesy, nutty cauliflower with a basketful of mint! David, when you read the recipe, it has is basically simple but oh does it promise flavour. Remember the film if not the quote and wish we always had the sexy purple cauliflower available!
Perfect recipe for a light, healthy meal! I will definitely try purple cauliflower if I ever see it available. No doubt the recipe is delicious regardless of the color of the cauliflower though. The one you used was gorgeous!
The quote goes so well with the photo ; gosh I have not seen Four Weddings and a Funeral in such a long time that I need to plan for a rewatch very soon. This is such a lovely recipe, I love that you added walnut and mint to it, it makes so unique. Have a lovely weekend, ~Nessa (from Chicago)
The color quote was quite serendipitous — I just loved the purple with the orange and then I remembered the movie! Glad you like the recipe, Nessa — a rare moment I love a NY Times recipe with no changes!
oh yes cauliflower, walnuts etc – yum! My fave movie quotes are from the Princess Bride. Such classics. oh yes I love Scarlet too! she is a classic gal!
sherry
What a wonderful combination, David! This is exactly my kind of pasta dish. I love the cauliflower, walnuts, Pecorino, and mint together they – so fresh, hearty, and full of flavour.
Love that movie, and love the purple cauliflower, I have rarely seen the purple caulis here, but will be on the lookout again now. This dish sounds perfect, with lots of colour and flavour. Broccoli would bring lots of colour as well. I love that you use some New York Times recipes, they always seem so good, although I rarely see them. It’s great to be home and cooking again isn’t it?
The movie is one of our favorites and might be on the docket for tonight’s viewing pleasure. Purple cauliflower and broccoli are a big thing here when they are in season. To me, they are a little sweeter. But this would be wonderful with green broccoli and white cauliflower — it’s a greta recipe. I read the NY Times recipes all the time but I make very few exactly as written. I have learned to read the comments section before starting — the readers are often smarter than the chefs!!!
I love this, movie quotes are such a funny little time capsule. It’s amazing how a single line can pull you straight back into a moment, a place, or even a whole era of your life. Some of them stick so hard they basically become part of your everyday vocabulary.
We are pretty goofy — we quote movies all the time and I think our friends wonder what we are talking about. But we love moveis and how they relate to everyday life.
Pasta, fresh produce and cheese–how perfect! And the purple cauliflower is glorious! Our movie quotes are usually restricted to LOTR and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Glad you like this, Inger! As for movie quotes, we will quote Monty Pythons, too. In fact we live off movie quotes, but I have never seen LOTR. crazy, eh?
Eha Carr
June 20, 2026 at 4:10 amWow! Saturday night here with my favourite architectural show on TV – but when I saw your ‘headline’ the latter was turned off 🙂 ! A beautiful cheesy, nutty cauliflower with a basketful of mint! David, when you read the recipe, it has is basically simple but oh does it promise flavour. Remember the film if not the quote and wish we always had the sexy purple cauliflower available!
David Scott Allen
June 20, 2026 at 6:40 amIt is a really lovely combination of flavors in one pasta. And the purple of the cauliflower is so beautiful.
Mimi Rippee
June 20, 2026 at 5:37 amWhat a delightful pasta! The cauliflower is beautiful. I need to watch that movie again…
David Scott Allen
June 20, 2026 at 6:39 amIt’s a fun movie. Naturally, I had to watch the whole thing just to get the right line…
Mad Dog
June 20, 2026 at 5:53 amThat looks like a perfect summer recipe!
David Scott Allen
June 20, 2026 at 6:39 amIt is, indeed! And it tastes as good as it looks.
angiesrecipes
June 20, 2026 at 7:07 amLooks like a very satisfying and delicious meal! Wish my stomach agree with all the plants..
David Scott Allen
June 20, 2026 at 7:29 amI wish that, too, Angie! I completely understand.
Barb
June 20, 2026 at 7:13 amPerfect recipe for a light, healthy meal! I will definitely try purple cauliflower if I ever see it available. No doubt the recipe is delicious regardless of the color of the cauliflower though. The one you used was gorgeous!
David Scott Allen
June 20, 2026 at 7:30 amI don’t know if it’s true or just my imagination, but I think purple cauliflower and purple broccoli taste sweeter! I hope you can find some, Barb!
Kate Jensen
June 20, 2026 at 7:56 amThe quote sounds like something Mark would say!
David Scott Allen
June 20, 2026 at 8:30 amHaha — well, you aren’t wrong, Kate!
🇺🇸Baking with Nessa🇺🇸
June 20, 2026 at 3:02 pmThe quote goes so well with the photo ; gosh I have not seen Four Weddings and a Funeral in such a long time that I need to plan for a rewatch very soon. This is such a lovely recipe, I love that you added walnut and mint to it, it makes so unique. Have a lovely weekend, ~Nessa (from Chicago)
David Scott Allen
June 21, 2026 at 10:37 amThe color quote was quite serendipitous — I just loved the purple with the orange and then I remembered the movie! Glad you like the recipe, Nessa — a rare moment I love a NY Times recipe with no changes!
FEL!X
June 20, 2026 at 6:24 pmThe quote goes really well with the photo!
Ich werde mir den Film demnächst wieder einmal ansehen!
David Scott Allen
June 21, 2026 at 10:37 amI was so happy with the colors going so well with the quote! Und ja, du musst dir den Film noch einmal ansehen!
Sherry M
June 21, 2026 at 1:32 amoh yes cauliflower, walnuts etc – yum! My fave movie quotes are from the Princess Bride. Such classics. oh yes I love Scarlet too! she is a classic gal!
sherry
David Scott Allen
June 21, 2026 at 10:38 amOh gosh — I love the Princess Bride, both the book and the movie. It is so quotable! Thanks, Sherry.
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
June 22, 2026 at 1:35 pmWhat a wonderful combination, David! This is exactly my kind of pasta dish. I love the cauliflower, walnuts, Pecorino, and mint together they – so fresh, hearty, and full of flavour.
David Scott Allen
June 25, 2026 at 4:52 pmYou will love this, Ben — it is good and quite healthy!
Pauline McNee
June 22, 2026 at 5:58 pmLove that movie, and love the purple cauliflower, I have rarely seen the purple caulis here, but will be on the lookout again now. This dish sounds perfect, with lots of colour and flavour. Broccoli would bring lots of colour as well. I love that you use some New York Times recipes, they always seem so good, although I rarely see them. It’s great to be home and cooking again isn’t it?
David Scott Allen
June 25, 2026 at 4:52 pmThe movie is one of our favorites and might be on the docket for tonight’s viewing pleasure. Purple cauliflower and broccoli are a big thing here when they are in season. To me, they are a little sweeter. But this would be wonderful with green broccoli and white cauliflower — it’s a greta recipe. I read the NY Times recipes all the time but I make very few exactly as written. I have learned to read the comments section before starting — the readers are often smarter than the chefs!!!
Raymund
June 25, 2026 at 4:07 pmI love this, movie quotes are such a funny little time capsule. It’s amazing how a single line can pull you straight back into a moment, a place, or even a whole era of your life. Some of them stick so hard they basically become part of your everyday vocabulary.
David Scott Allen
June 25, 2026 at 4:33 pmWe are pretty goofy — we quote movies all the time and I think our friends wonder what we are talking about. But we love moveis and how they relate to everyday life.
Inger
June 29, 2026 at 10:24 amPasta, fresh produce and cheese–how perfect! And the purple cauliflower is glorious! Our movie quotes are usually restricted to LOTR and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
David Scott Allen
June 30, 2026 at 2:31 pmGlad you like this, Inger! As for movie quotes, we will quote Monty Pythons, too. In fact we live off movie quotes, but I have never seen LOTR. crazy, eh?
2pots2cook
July 9, 2026 at 2:20 amLove how you combined all these ingredients together!!!!
David Scott Allen
July 10, 2026 at 9:01 amI can’t take the credit — but it is a wonderful combination.