Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower

Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower is an old Italian peasant dish that uses cauliflower as the main ingredient for the sauce. The cauliflower slowly cooks into a creamy texture, and it’s cooked with pasta to create this amazing and tasty dish we call pasta with creamy cauliflower! It’s Italian comfort food at its best.

 

Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower

Pasta with creamy cauliflower is a simple, easy dish that’s positively DELICIOUS!  Your kids will love this too!  Best of all, the kids will have no idea it’s made with cauliflower, so don’t tell them!

This is our family’s recipe handed down from our mom, and one we have been making for years! Here, I made this dish with broken spaghetti, just like our mom did when we were kids.  She called this dish her Southern Italian version of “mac & cheese!”

Cooking the cauliflower into a creamy mixture was our mom’s secret and a clever way to hide the cauliflower in this dish.  She was very smart. It was her genius idea to get us to eat more cauliflower.

Besides, everyone will think this dish is made with some cream in it because it has a similar texture to that of a creamy Alfredo dish.  But the truth is, there is NO cream in this recipe at all! Making this dish healthier!

 

Reasons we LOVE this recipe!

• This is an “all-in-one” recipe. Everything is cooked in one pot.
• It is relatively easy and ready to serve in less than 20 minutes!
• This dish is loaded with a nutrient-dense vegetable.
• And, if you prefer, you can omit the cheese and it’s VEGAN!

How To Make this Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower dish! (3 Easy Steps!)

1.  COOK THE CAULIFLOWER: First,  the cauliflower gets flavored and sauteed with some garlic, fresh parsley, and red pepper flakes.

2.  ADD THE WATER: Next, water is added, and the cauliflower is simmered until it melts into a creamy mixture.

3.  TOSS IN THE PASTA: Then toss your favorite pasta in the creamy mixture and simmer until the pasta is tender.  This cooking method is similar to making Italian risotto dishes.

Let’s Make It…

Ingredients for Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower:

*Follow along or jump down to the bottom of this post to our full recipe card.

• 1 small or medium Cauliflower
• 1/2 pound (8-ounces) of spaghetti – broken into pieces
• 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, plus a dash more
• 4 to 5 garlic cloves- chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 2 cups of water, and more as needed
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• fresh cracked pepper to taste
• grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Directions To Make It:

1. First, rinse and cut cauliflower florets into chunks, and discard the core.
2. Grab a medium-sized sauce pot. Add the cauliflower to a large pot with 1 inch of water.  Cover and steam for 5 minutes.  Drain water.  Remove and set aside.

3.  Using the same pot, you need to first dry the pot with a paper towel.  Add olive oil and heat on medium-low heat, and toss in the garlic and crushed red pepper.  Sauté the garlic until golden color.

4.  Next, add back the cauliflower into the pot with the garlic and oil toss in fresh chopped parsley and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring while the flavors are infusing with one another.

5.  Pour 2 cups of bottled water into the mixture.  Add salt and fresh cracked pepper, and cover with a lid. Simmer on low for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cauliflower is cooked down to a soft, creamy mixture.

6.  In the meantime, break the spaghetti into small pieces, and place them into a bowl. 

QUICK NOTE: If you have a large cauliflower then you can use the entire package of spaghetti.  I prefer to have more of the creamy cauliflower with my pasta, so I prefer to use less pasta in this dish.

7.  Raise the heat and bring the cauliflower mixture to a full boil.  Add spaghetti to the mixture.  Bring to a full boil, then lower the heat to medium-low.

 

8. Stirring occasionally, and even constantly.  (This will need nurturing, like risotto.) The water will get absorbed as the pasta is cooking.  Cook the spaghetti for about 6 to 7 minutes or until al dente.  Gradually add more water, ( increments of 1/4 cup) as needed. The mixture will be thick and creamy. Keep tasting the pasta until it’s cooked to al-dente, or your liking.

When the pasta is perfectly cooked.  I like to stir in 1 more “dash” of red pepper flakes.  Turn off the heat.  Taste, and season with salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.

9.  Final Step!  Ladle pasta with creamy cauliflower into serving bowls.  Add grated Pecorino Romano cheese on top.  Serve immediately.  If the mixture is too sticky, stir some extra virgin olive oil, or water into the pasta.

Serves 4 to 6

Storing and Freezing:

Store any leftovers in a sealed container and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days. It freezes beautifully too.

More Italian Recipes… 

• Cacio e Pepe Recipe
• Pasta Cooked with Broccoli in 15 Minutes!
• One-Pot Pasta Recipe
• Pasta with Baby Peas
• Zucchini Tomato Sauce over Fusilli Pasta
• Cauliflower Gratin Casserole Recipe

Serve and Enjoy!

Your Family and Friends Will Love This Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower! This is such a delicious dish! You will need to serve it with some grated pecorino romano cheese or with grated parmesan cheese on top, as the finishing touch!  A great and easy dish to make!

But don’t take our word for it, you’ll have to try it!

ENJOY!

Your comments help us! If you try our delicious pasta with a creamy cauliflower recipe, let us know and leave a comment with a star rating on our recipe card.  And, thank you! 🙂

Happy Cooking!

xo Anna and Liz