Cauliflower Alfredo Pasta Recipe
A creamy, dairy-rich Fettuccine Alfredo made with a smooth cauliflower-based sauce, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of lemon, tossed with perfectly cooked fettuccine pasta. This recipe blends the richness of traditional Alfredo with the added nutrition of cauliflower for a delightful twist on a classic Italian dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 12 ounces cauliflower florets (about 1 small cauliflower)
- 2 garlic cloves
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Dairy & Fats
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Pantry Items & Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 16 ounces fettuccine pasta
- 1 to 1½ cups reserved pasta cooking water
Instructions
- Prepare cauliflower: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and boil for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain well.
- Make the sauce: Place the drained cauliflower in a blender. Add Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, Dijon mustard, unsalted butter, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, and several grinds of black pepper.
- Cook the pasta: In the same or a separate large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1½ cups of the starchy cooking water.
- Blend the sauce: Pour 1 cup of the reserved pasta water into the blender with the cauliflower mixture and blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy in texture.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Transfer the cooked fettuccine to a large bowl or skillet. Add the blended cauliflower sauce and toss to coat completely. If the sauce is too thick, add the remaining ½ cup of reserved pasta water gradually and toss again to achieve a creamier consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the pasta, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately with additional grated Parmesan cheese on the side.
Notes
- Reserve pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency for a perfect creamy texture.
- Boiling cauliflower softens it for smooth blending and a creamy texture without heavy cream.
- Adding lemon juice adds brightness and balances the richness of the sauce.
- This dish is best served fresh for optimal creaminess and flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute fettuccine with gluten-free pasta.
Keywords: Fettuccine Alfredo, cauliflower Alfredo, creamy pasta, Italian pasta recipe, vegetarian Alfredo, healthy Alfredo sauce
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/cauliflower-alfredo-pasta-recipe/
