Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo (Printable)

Light and velvety pasta with no-cream cauliflower sauce

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 1.5 lb)
02 - 3 cloves garlic, peeled
03 - 1 small yellow onion, chopped

→ Dairy & Alternatives

04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
06 - 1/2 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)

→ Pasta

07 - 12 oz fettuccine or linguine

→ Seasonings

08 - 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnishes

11 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
12 - Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower florets, garlic cloves, and chopped onion. Cook for 8–10 minutes until cauliflower is very tender.
02 - Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked cauliflower, garlic, and onion to a blender or food processor. Reserve the cooking water in the pot.
03 - Add butter, Parmesan cheese, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) to the blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Add a splash of the cooking water if needed to reach desired consistency.
04 - In the same pot, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
05 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Pour over the cauliflower Alfredo sauce and toss well to coat. Add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve creamy consistency.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy comfort of Alfredo without the heavy cream post-meal food coma
  • The sauce comes together in one blender step making weeknight luxury entirely possible
02 -
  • Let the hot vegetables cool for just a minute before blending to avoid steam pressure buildup in your blender
  • The sauce thickens as it stands so err on the side of slightly thinner when blending
03 -
  • A high-speed blender creates the silkiest texture but a standard immersion blender works too
  • Add a squeeze of lemon juice right before serving to brighten all the flavors
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