Baked Cauliflower with Olives and Pine Nuts

Ingredients

 * 1 small cauliflower
 * Salt
 * 18 salt-cured black olives, pitted and halved
 * 1/4 cup olive oil
 * 1/4 cup chopped red onion
 * 3 tablespoons pine nuts
 * Freshly ground pepper
 * 2/3 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese
 * 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the cauliflower into 1 1/2-inch florets. Boil, uncovered, in a large pot of salted water until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.

2) Soak the olives in several changes of water until they no longer taste salty.

3) Select an 8- or 9-inch shallow baking dish that can go from stove-top to oven. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in the dish over moderately low heat. Add onion and sauté until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add cauliflower and gently crush florets into oil and onions with a fork. Stir in pine nuts, drained olives and a pinch of pepper. Sprinkle evenly with cheese, breadcrumbs and remaining tablespoon oil.

4) Bake 20 minutes. Serve lukewarm.