Cauliflower Cheese Pasta Bake Recipes

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200 fan/gas 9. Toss the cauliflower florets, leaves and sliced core with 1 tbsp olive oil in a roasting tin and season. Roast in the oven for 30-40 mins, or until the cauliflower is turning golden and smelling nutty. While it's roasting, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the shallots, sugar and thyme. Cook for 10-15 mins until soft, sweet and caramelised. Add the wine and cook for a few more mins until evaporated. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salty boiling water until just cooked. Drain and set aside.
• For the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a non-stick saucepan over a medium heat with the bay leaf. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 mins or so, until the roux is starting to bubble. Pour in the milk, little by little, stirring with a whisk, until fully incorporated and you have a smooth, lump-free sauce. Cook for about 10 mins until thickened, and then season with nutmeg and black pepper. Next, add the cheese and stir over the heat until it's melted and smooth. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning, adding the vinegar or lemon juice to taste.
• Tip the pasta and shallots into the cauliflower roasting dish, then pour over the cheese sauce and stir so everything is well coated. Sprinkle over the remaining parmesan, reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 20 mins, or until golden. Remove from the oven and allow to settle for about 10 mins, then serve with a crisp chicory salad.

BAKED PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER AND CHEESE

Steps:

• To prepare the Bechamel sauce, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking or stirring constantly, until a smooth pasteis formed. Add the heated milk slowly, a cup at a time, continuing to whisk until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and let the sauce thicken further on low heat. Remove from heat and cover.
• Saute the onions, garlic, and basil in oil. When the onions are translucent, add the cauliflower and saute for 5 minutes or more. Add the tomatoes and simmer until the cauliflower is tender.
• Cook the pasta al dente and then drain.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the Sauteed vegetables, and the lemon juice. Mix in the Bechamel sauce. Put half of the pasta mixture in an oiled baking dish. Sprinkle on half of each of the cheeses. Add the rest of the pasta mixture and then the rest of the cheese. Top with seasoned bread crumbs and bake covered at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes and then uncovered for about 15 minutes or until bubbling and golden on top

CAULIFLOWER & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high and bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Grill the bacon slices for 5 mins or until crispy, then drain on kitchen paper and cut into small pieces.
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Add the cauliflower to the pasta pan for the final 8 mins, so that it is just tender, then drain, reserving 2 tbsp of the cooking water.
• Melt the butter in a small pan over a low heat, then stir in the flour and cook for a couple of mins. Gradually stir in the milk, mixing well between each addition. Bring to a simmer, then cook for a few mins until thickened. Season, add the mustard and half the grated cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
• Tip the pasta and cauliflower back into the pan along with the reserved cooking water. Stir through the cheese sauce and bacon, then transfer the mix to a baking dish. Mix together the breadcrumbs and remaining cheese, then sprinkle over the pasta. Cook for 5 mins under the grill until browned. Serve with a salad, if you like.

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until about halfway cooked (it needs to be very firm at this stage so that it doesn't overcook when baked). Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid, and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well.
• Lightly crush cherry tomatoes with your hands in a large bowl. Add mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, Parmesan, cream, and reserved ½ cup pasta cooking liquid and mix to combine. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add cauliflower and cooked pasta and toss to coat. Butter (or lightly coat) a 3-qt. or 13x9x2" baking dish with butter. Scrape in pasta mixture and spread out into an even layer. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake pasta until hot throughout and steaming when foil is lifted, 20-25 minutes.
• Remove foil and increase oven temperature to 425°F. Continue to bake pasta until sauce is bubbling and top is browned and crunchy in spots, 25-30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Pasta can be assembled 2 days ahead. Cover and chill until ready to bake.

CAULIFLOWER PASTA AND CHEESE GRATIN

Steps:

• Set oven to 400 degrees F.
• Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• In a heavy-bottomed medium-size saucepan, melt the 1/4 cup butter, whisk in the thyme, nutmeg, fresh garlic, cayenne pepper and black pepper; whisk/mix for 2 minutes.
• Add/whisk in the flour, mix for 2-3 minutes.
• Slowly add/whisk in the half and half cream; whisk on med-low heat, until a light boil and thick; reduce heat to low, contine to whisk and cook for 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat, add in the grated cheddar, Parmesan cheese, green onion and the Dijon mustard (if using); mix until all the cheese has melted; season with salt and more black pepper to taste.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
• Mix together the sauce, cooked pasta and the cooked, drained cauliflower; toss to combine.
• Transfer and spread the mixture into a prepared greased baking dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, 1-2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese and the melted butter.
• Sprinkle over the cauliflower mixture in the baking pan.
• Bake for 20 22 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

PASTA WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND PARMESAN

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.

CAULIFLOWER "MAC AND CHEESE" BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Cook cauliflower in boiling water in large saucepan 4 minutes; drain well.
• Melt 2 Tbsp. margarine in large saucepan on medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in flour and mustard; cook and stir 1 minute. Whisk in milk; cook 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add 1-1/4 cups Cheddar and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan; stir until Cheddar is melted. Add cauliflower; stir to evenly coat. Spoon into 2.5-L casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Microwave remaining margarine in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 30 sec. or until melted. Stir in bread crumbs and remaining Parmesan; sprinkle over cauliflower mixture.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through, topping with remaining Cheddar for the last 5 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER-AND-PARMESAN PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard all but 2 Tbsp. drippings from skillet. Reserve 1 Tbsp. drippings for later use; return remaining reserved drippings to skillet.
• Add cauliflower to skillet; cook, stirring frequently, 4 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add garlic, flour and pepper; cool and stir 1 min. Stir in milk; cook, stirring frequently, 8 to 10 min. or until thickened. Add 1 cup cheese; cook and stir 1 to 2 min. or until melted. Remove from heat.
• Drain pasta. Add to cauliflower mixture along with the bacon; mix lightly. Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Combine bread crumbs with reserved bacon drippings and remaining cheese; spoon over pasta mixture.
• Bake 10 min. or until cauliflower mixture is heated through and bread crumb topping is golden brown.