**Savory Spaghetti Sauce Made with Cauliflower: A Healthier Alternative and 3 Unique Recipes**
Are you looking for a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional spaghetti sauces? Look no further than this collection of three unique recipes featuring spaghetti sauce made with cauliflower. This innovative approach to spaghetti sauce not only adds a nutritious twist but also offers a rich and flavorful experience. Whether you prefer a classic tomato-based sauce, a creamy Alfredo sauce, or a spicy Arrabbiata sauce, these recipes have something for every palate. Get ready to indulge in guilt-free spaghetti dishes that are packed with flavor and goodness.
**Recipes:**
1. **Classic Cauliflower Spaghetti Sauce:** This recipe transforms ordinary cauliflower into an extraordinary sauce that perfectly complements your favorite spaghetti. With the addition of aromatic herbs, zesty garlic, and tangy tomatoes, this classic sauce delivers a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more.
2. **Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce:** Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this luscious and velvety Alfredo sauce made with cauliflower. The secret ingredient, cauliflower, lends a creamy texture and a subtle nutty flavor that pairs wonderfully with al dente spaghetti. Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience without compromising on health.
3. **Spicy Cauliflower Arrabbiata Sauce:** For those who love a bit of heat, this spicy cauliflower Arrabbiata sauce is sure to set your taste buds ablaze. The combination of fiery chili peppers, tangy tomatoes, and the subtle sweetness of cauliflower creates a perfectly balanced sauce that will satisfy your craving for a flavorful and tantalizing pasta dish.
With these three recipes, you can enjoy delicious spaghetti dishes without sacrificing taste or nutrition. Embrace the versatility of cauliflower and let it elevate your pasta cooking to new heights.
SAUSAGE-CAULIFLOWER SPAGHETTI
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook as the label directs. Reserve 2 cups cooking water, then drain.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned and no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Clear a space in the pan, add the garlic and cook until just golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower and cook until the edges are browned, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of the reserved cooking water, cover and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the cauliflower is tender, about 8 more minutes. Uncover and boil over high heat until the liquid is almost evaporated, about 2 more minutes.
- Add the spaghetti to the skillet along with the scallions. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Toss for a minute or two to wilt the scallions and coat the pasta with the sauce, adding up to 1 cup cooking water, if needed, to loosen. Remove from the heat, sprinkle with the cheese and toss. Divide among shallow bowls and drizzle with more olive oil, if desired.
SPAGHETTI WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER, TOMATO SAUCE AND OLIVES
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
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
PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH CAULIFLOWER SAUCE
If you're not using a high-protein pasta, you can double the protein per serving by adding 8 ounces cooked and sliced chicken breast. Double the sauce in Step 1 to keep the dish creamy.
Provided by EatAndRun
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Pasta Primavera Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in cauliflower and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Uncover and let cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor. Add cheese, water, and black pepper. Cover and pulse until smooth.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli and bell pepper the last 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.
- Return pasta mixture to pot and stir in cauliflower sauce. Heat through, stirring in reserved cooking water (if needed) to reach desired consistency. Garnish with basil, zest (if using), lemon juice, and additional cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 295 calories, Carbohydrate 47.7 g, Cholesterol 7.2 mg, Fat 7.3 g, Fiber 10.8 g, Protein 14.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 313.9 mg, Sugar 7.6 g
PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER
This dish is derived from a Marcella Hazan recipe. It's dead simple, and the cauliflower can be precooked a day ahead or so. Or, the whole thing can be made at once: cook the cauliflower in water, scoop it out and then, later, cook the pasta in the same water. It's already boiling, and you want the taste of the cauliflower anyway, so why not? The cauliflower gets cooked more, in a skillet with toasted garlic, so don't boil it to death, although you do want it to be tender. And in the original Minimalist recipe, from 2000, bread crumbs were added to the skillet along with the cauliflower, but since some pasta water is usually added to the skillet to keep the mixture saucy, the bread crumbs become soggy. Better, then, to stir the bread crumbs in at the very end. They should be very coarse and ideally homemade, and if they're toasted in olive oil in a separate skillet before you toss them in, so much the better.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, easy, main course
Time 40m
Yield 3 or 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Trim the cauliflower and divide it into florets. Add about a tablespoon of salt to the water and boil cauliflower until it is tender but not mushy. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, remove the cauliflower and set it aside. When it is cool enough to handle, chop it roughly into small pieces.
- Meanwhile, in a large deep skillet over medium-low heat, sauté garlic in olive oil, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden. Start cooking pasta in same pot and same water as was used for the cauliflower.
- When the garlic is ready, add the cauliflower to skillet and turn heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally. When pasta is just about done - it should be 2 or 3 minutes short of the way you like it - drain it, reserving about a cup of cooking liquid.
- Add pasta to skillet containing the cauliflower, and toss with a large spoon until they are well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste, along with just enough pasta water to keep the mixture moist but not soupy. When the mixture is hot and the pasta is tender and nicely glazed, mix in the bread crumbs.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 686, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 112 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 678 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams
CAULIFLOWER ALFREDO SAUCE
Provided by Katie Lee Biegel
Categories condiment
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook at a low boil until very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the cauliflower with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain in a colander, reserving the boiling water for the pasta.
- Add the fettuccine to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions (usually about 10 minutes).
- Make the sauce while the pasta cooks. In a blender, combine the cauliflower with the milk and puree until smooth.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the butter and garlic until the butter melts. Add the cauliflower puree and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the garlic. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan.
- Heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat and add some olive oil. Sear the shrimp briefly on both sides until just cooked through.
- Use tongs to remove the pasta from the water and transfer to the skillet with the sauce. Add 1/3 cup pasta water. Turn the heat back to medium and toss to combine until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Add the shrimp and garnish with the parsley.
Tips:
- Choosing the Right Cauliflower: Select a fresh, firm cauliflower with tightly packed florets. A medium-sized head, about 2 pounds, will yield approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower.
- Preparing the Cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into florets and remove the tough central core. Use a food processor or grater to rice the cauliflower into small, even pieces.
- Cooking the Cauliflower: Sauté the cauliflower in a large skillet with olive oil over medium heat until tender and slightly browned, about 10-12 minutes. This step helps enhance its flavor and texture.
- Seasoning and Adding Vegetables: Add your desired seasonings, such as garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, to the cauliflower. You can also incorporate other vegetables like diced onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms for added flavor and texture.
- Simmering the Sauce: Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and water or vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld and develop.
- Adding Meat or Plant-Based Protein (Optional): If desired, you can add cooked ground beef, sausage, or plant-based protein alternatives like lentils or tofu to the sauce for a hearty and protein-packed meal.
- Finishing Touches: Stir in freshly chopped parsley or basil just before serving for an extra burst of flavor. Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni.
Conclusion:
This versatile cauliflower-based spaghetti sauce offers a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional tomato sauce. With its rich flavor, satisfying texture, and customizable ingredients, it caters to various dietary preferences. Whether you're looking for a lighter, veggie-packed sauce or a hearty and protein-rich meal, this recipe has something for everyone. Enjoy this flavorful and nutritious dish as a satisfying and wholesome addition to your pasta meals.
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