Best 4 Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Toss Recipes

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**Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Toss: A Symphony of Flavors for the Health-Conscious Gourmet**

Embark on a culinary journey with our tantalizing Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Toss, a delectable dish that harmonizes roasted cauliflower's smoky sweetness, tender pasta's comforting embrace, and a vibrant medley of vegetables. This recipe caters to health-conscious gourmands, offering a symphony of flavors and textures that will delight the palate while nourishing the body.

Our recipe features roasted cauliflower, a nutritional powerhouse, caramelized to perfection in a hot oven, exuding a smoky sweetness that complements the al dente pasta's satisfying bite. We've incorporated a colorful array of vegetables, including zucchini, bell peppers, and spinach, adding a symphony of colors, flavors, and essential nutrients.

To elevate this dish to gourmet status, we've prepared a zesty lemon-tahini dressing, combining bright citrus notes with the creamy richness of tahini, creating a luscious sauce that enhances the flavors of each ingredient while providing a delightful tang.

Whether you're seeking a wholesome weeknight meal or a showstopping dish to impress guests, our Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Toss is an ideal choice. Its vibrant colors, diverse textures, and harmonious blend of flavors will tantalize your taste buds, leaving you feeling satisfied and nourished.

**Additional Recipe Delights Within the Article:**

- **Lemon-Tahini Dressing:** Discover the art of crafting a zesty and creamy dressing that elevates the Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Toss to new heights.

- **Roasted Vegetables:** Learn the secrets of roasting cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers, and spinach to perfection, maximizing their flavors and creating a colorful medley of vegetables.

- **Pasta Cooking Guide:** Master the art of cooking pasta al dente, achieving the perfect balance between a tender bite and a slight firmness that complements the roasted vegetables and tangy dressing.

With our comprehensive guide, you'll have all the tools and knowledge necessary to create a culinary masterpiece that nourishes your body and delights your taste buds.

Let's cook with our recipes!

PASTA WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND PARMESAN



Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower and Parmesan image

Cauliflower and whole garlic cloves roasted with Parmesan and bread crumbs make this a healthier than most comfort food.

Provided by Rosemary Felle

Categories     Everyday Cooking     Vegetarian     Main Dishes     Pasta

Time 50m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more to taste
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons salted butter
¼ cup lemon juice

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Toss cauliflower with garlic cloves, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet.
  • Roast in the preheated oven, tossing at least twice, until cauliflower is tender, about 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
  • Mix Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl; set aside.
  • Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Transfer pasta to a serving bowl and add cauliflower and butter. Stir in cooking water, a little at a time, until desired creaminess is reached. Add lemon juice and bread crumb mixture, toss, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 333.2 calories, Carbohydrate 48.2 g, Cholesterol 16.5 mg, Fat 10.7 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 13.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.4 g, Sodium 332.4 mg, Sugar 3.8 g

PASTA WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND BLUE CHEESE



Pasta With Roasted Cauliflower and Blue Cheese image

When creamy Gorgonzola dolce hits a pot full of hot pasta, it melts into a rich and complex sauce without your having to do much more than stir. Here, the pasta and sauce are tossed with roasted cauliflower and caramelized, browned leeks. It's comfort food, but with a blue-cheese bite.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 55m

Yield 3 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 head cauliflower, cut into 3/4-inch florets
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large or 2 small leeks, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon thyme leaves, more for serving
8 ounces short pasta such as campanelle, orecchiette, conchiglie, farfalle or fusilli
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
6 ounces Gorgonzola dolce, crumbled, at room temperature
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped chives, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower with olive oil, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread onto a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer, and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Add leeks, garlic and thyme to the cauliflower on the sheet pan, then roast another 20 minutes, tossing the vegetables halfway through, until they are very tender and deeply caramelized.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until it is 1 minute shy of being al dente. (It will continue to cook in the residual heat of the pot.) Scoop out about 1 cup pasta water (a coffee mug is good for this), then drain pasta. Return the pasta to the empty pot, along with butter, Gorgonzola, remaining 3/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 cup pasta water, stirring to melt cheese.
  • Toss roasted vegetables into pasta, then stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Add more pasta water if mixture looks dry. To serve, spoon into bowls and top with chives and sprinkle of thyme leaves.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 606, UnsaturatedFat 18 grams, Carbohydrate 54 grams, Fat 36 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 16 grams, Sodium 648 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams

PASTA WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER, PARSLEY, AND BREADCRUMBS



Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Parsley, and Breadcrumbs image

Easy prep cuts stress in the kitchen. Here, corkscrew pasta is tossed with oven-roasted vegetables and topped with toasted breadcrumbs.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 head cauliflower (about 2 1/2 pounds), cored and broken into small florets
1 medium red onion, halved and cut into thin wedges
5 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1/4 cup olive oil
4 slices white sandwich bread
12 ounces cavatappi or other short pasta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving (optional)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 475 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Set a large pot of salted water to boil. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss cauliflower, onion, and garlic with 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast on lower rack until lightly browned and tender, 20 minutes, tossing once.
  • Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine bread and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; pulse until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake on upper rack until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes, tossing once.
  • Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot. Add cauliflower mixture, Parmesan, and parsley; toss to combine. Tossing pasta, gradually add enough pasta water to form a thin sauce that coats pasta. Serve topped with breadcrumbs and, if desired, more Parmesan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 560 g, Fat 18 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 18 g

SPAGHETTI WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER, TOMATO SAUCE AND OLIVES



Spaghetti With Roasted Cauliflower, Tomato Sauce and Olives image

Perhaps because cauliflower is on the bland side and Mediterranean black olives have such a pronounced flavor, the two go beautifully together. In Italy, Greece and in North Africa, you find the triumvirate of cauliflower, tomatoes and olives in all sorts of dishes.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, pastas, main course

Time 1h10m

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 medium head of cauliflower, broken into florets
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, with juice
Pinch of sugar
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt
freshly ground pepper
12 kalamata olives, pitted and cut in half lengthwise
3/4 pound spaghetti
2 ounces either feta (crumbled), ricotta salata, Parmesan, or a mix of Parmesan and Pecorino (grated)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the cauliflower. Blanch for two minutes and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain and blot dry. Cover the pot; you'll use the water again for the pasta. Quarter the cauliflower florets, toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and salt generously. Transfer to a baking sheet, place in the oven and roast 30 minutes, stirring from time to time, until tender and lightly browned. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a wide, nonstick frying pan or a 3-quart saucepan, heat the remaining oil over medium heat and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about one minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, thyme and salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, until thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the cauliflower and the olives, and simmer a few minutes more. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  • Bring the water back to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until the pasta is al dente, usually about 10 minutes. Drain and toss with the cauliflower-tomato mixture. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and serve at once.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 482, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 73 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 19 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 677 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams

Tips:

  • Choose the right cauliflower: Look for a head of cauliflower that is compact and heavy, with tightly packed florets. Avoid heads that have any brown or yellow spots, as these may indicate bruising or decay.
  • Roast the cauliflower until it is tender and slightly charred: This will give the cauliflower a delicious smoky flavor. Roasting also helps to bring out the cauliflower's natural sweetness.
  • Use a variety of vegetables in your pasta toss: This will add color, texture, and flavor to the dish. Some good options include broccoli, zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers.
  • Don't overcook the pasta: Al dente pasta is the perfect texture for this dish. If you overcook the pasta, it will become mushy and lose its flavor.
  • Use a flavorful cheese: Parmesan cheese is a classic choice for pasta dishes, but you can also use other types of cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or asiago.
  • Season the dish to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice or a drizzle of olive oil to brighten up the flavors.

Conclusion:

Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Toss is a delicious and healthy vegetarian dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. The roasted cauliflower adds a smoky flavor to the dish, and the variety of vegetables provides a colorful and flavorful contrast. This dish is also a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables!

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