with more cauliflower and the addition of pantry staples like olives, capers, and anchovies.
Use the recipe as a guide but feel free to call in your own reinforcements, like hard-boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, stale bread cubes, cubes of cured salami or ham, marinated artichoke hearts, or other fresh herbs.
For the shopping list
Romanesco Broccoli
Goat Horn Peppers in Oil
black, green or mixed olives, pitted
red onion, chopped
Celery stalks with leaves, chopped
Fresh Mint or Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
Golden Raisins
Garlic, finely chopped
From the kitchen
Stock Pot (big enough to boil head of romanesco)
Chefs Knife
Pairing Knife
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons
and I like to preserve the shapes when I serve this striking member of the cabbage family. It's often called a cauliflower, but the flavor is a bit more delicate."
Soak the capers in cold water for 15 minutes, then drain.
Drop the whole head of romanesco into a pot of well-salted boiling water, and remove it after 3 minutes (don’t wait for the water to return to a boil to start timing). Let it cool enough to handle, then use the tip of a small knife to cut off the Fibonacci-numbered florets. Set them aside while you chop the stem and core into smallish, bite-sized pieces.
Combine the chopped romanesco with the other ingredients, taste and add salt as needed. While you can eat the salad right away, it’ll be better if allowed to rest for at least an hour.
I think this tastes best at room temperature, and it lasts for days, especially with reinforcements.