This Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine begins with fresh, naturally grown ingredients, clean flavors and brilliant whites. Like waking up to a new snow that’s settled on the frozen ground.
I like white. Ask Ranger Craig. He’ll tell you I have an obsession with white. It seems every trip to Costco I come home with a package of white towels, white wash cloths, or white kitchen rags. Last trip I came home with white bed linens. I like white.
It’s a good thing I like white. I read recently that cauliflower is making a comeback (I didn’t get the memo that it left) and so this Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine had to make a comeback too.
I’ve been preparing cauliflower for years. Even when it wasn’t the cool veggie. I like cauliflower. Roasted, baked with lots of good quality cheese, steamed and mashed. I even like it raw or fried with a spicy aioli for dipping.
Cauliflower is my inspiration for this winter white Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine with Garlic Béchamel and Toasted Pine Nuts. Fresh, enticing, distinctive in flavor and sporting the color of winter. The taste of comfort… like a soft white blanket.
This is a simple dish. Simply flavored with its few ingredients. To change things up I like playing with different types of cheese. I’ve used Manchengo, a firm goats cheese, Parrano, and mixed a few other fave Italian cheeses with it as well. If you don’t care for garlic, substitute with 1 shallot finely chopped.
Delicious Wishes and Loads of Love
Karista
Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine with Garlic Béchamel
Notes
Serve as an entree or side dish to grilled or roasted meats.
I like using roasted cauliflower as it brings out a deep sweetness to the vegetable. But feel free to blanch the cauliflower if you like.
Ingredients
- 1lb Fettuccine or Pappardelle
- 1 head fresh cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Garlic cloves, minced
- A squeeze of anchovy paste
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups whole milk, warmed
- Squeeze of lemon
- ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F. Toss the trimmed cauliflower florets with the olive oil and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until the cauliflower is crisp tender. Remove from the oven and season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Prepare the fettuccine according to package directions. While the fettuccine is cooking prepare the béchamel.
- In a large sauce pan heat the 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When the butter is just about melted, whisk in the garlic and anchovy and gently cook until the anchovy is incorporated into the butter. Just a few seconds to a minute. Don’t allow the butter or garlic to brown.
- Whisk in the flour and allow the flour to cook just for a minute or two, again, careful not to brown. Slowly whisk in the warm milk and continue whisking until nicely incorporated. As the sauce heats it will thicken. Continue gently whisking until the sauce begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the roasted cauliflower and ¼ cup toasted pine nuts to the fettuccine, add a squeeze of lemon and then toss with the sauce. The squeeze of lemon is used to elevate and bring all the flavors together in this dish.
- Pour the pasta into a large serving bowl and garnish with fresh grated cheese and remaining pine nuts. Serve immediately.
Roasted Cauliflower Fettuccine with Garlic Béchamel
Notes
Serve as an entree or side dish to grilled or roasted meats.
I like using roasted cauliflower as it brings out a deep sweetness to the vegetable. But feel free to blanch the cauliflower if you like.
Ingredients
- 1lb Fettuccine or Pappardelle
- 1 head fresh cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Garlic cloves, minced
- A squeeze of anchovy paste
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups whole milk, warmed
- Squeeze of lemon
- ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F. Toss the trimmed cauliflower florets with the olive oil and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until the cauliflower is crisp tender. Remove from the oven and season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Prepare the fettuccine according to package directions. While the fettuccine is cooking prepare the béchamel.
- In a large sauce pan heat the 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When the butter is just about melted, whisk in the garlic and anchovy and gently cook until the anchovy is incorporated into the butter. Just a few seconds to a minute. Don’t allow the butter or garlic to brown.
- Whisk in the flour and allow the flour to cook just for a minute or two, again, careful not to brown. Slowly whisk in the warm milk and continue whisking until nicely incorporated. As the sauce heats it will thicken. Continue gently whisking until the sauce begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the roasted cauliflower and ¼ cup toasted pine nuts to the fettuccine, add a squeeze of lemon and then toss with the sauce. The squeeze of lemon is used to elevate and bring all the flavors together in this dish.
- Pour the pasta into a large serving bowl and garnish with fresh grated cheese and remaining pine nuts. Serve immediately.
Every time I go to Costco I come home with a cookbook. It is a dangerous place isn’t it? I would really love to give this pasta a try …and though I don’t think the ponytails would be fans of the cauliflower, I could pull out some pasta and keep it plain before I add the cauliflower in. I used to sneak puréed cauliflower into my Mac and Cheese a few years back. Your “white” pasta makes me think of the interior design features where they keep everything “tone on tone”. It looks delicious!
Hahaha! I have the Costco cookbook affliction as well. My youngest gal loves this pasta but doesn’t like the cauliflower either. So of course she eats around it. 🙁
I’m terrible at interior design but I do recall reading about “tone on tone”. I wish I could pull that off in my house.
I, too, have a love for all things white! Cauliflower is one of my favorite veggies because it tastes like it should be “naughty” and filled with calories but it doesn’t:D This is a gorgeously lush recipe, Karista, you’ve done it again!! Wonderful!! xx
Thanks Smidge! I too think Cauliflower tastes indulgent! Especially roasted and topped with one of my favorite indulgent cheeses. 🙂
*sigh 🙂
I’ve been seeing cauliflower everywhere this month, but I too, don’t think I ever knew that it went out of style. I absolutely love the stuff as well. Although I’ve never had it with pasta – thank you, as always, for the inspiration AND the gorgeous pictures!
You’re welcome Jess! I’m always reading food news/information etc. Can’t remember which publication announced the comeback of cauliflower. Kind of struck me as funny! Happy rest of the week my friend. 🙂
This sounds delicious and I can use the cauliflower growing in my garden 🙂
Thanks Tandy! I don’t think I can eat enough cauliflower. 🙂
White is pure and perfect as is your wonderful meal – scrumity!
I think simplicity will always be the best.
Have a beautiful day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Thanks Mandy! My youngest gave it a thumbs up, while eating around the cauliflower. LOL!
Brilliant!
Thanks Rosemary 🙂
All Moms should love white towels…you can bleach just about anything out of them!
(The exception is purple hair dye, as I discovered when my girls were teens…)
Beautiful flavors in the recipe.
Well thank you!! I agree. And I do agree you can bleach just about anything out of them except hair dye. In my case it was pink. (my oldest gal when she was a teen). 🙁
You know I completely agree with that mantra! I love the pine nuts in this, what a lovely addition, and anchovy paste too, swoon.
I think anchovy makes a pasta sauce better. Sometimes I add it to my quickly prepared tomato sauce. Just to give it that long simmered intensity in flavor. Love little cheats. 🙂
THIS SOUNDS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Beth! It was pretty darn delicious. Not a speck leftover. 🙂
I love pasta and cauliflower…you dish sounds terrific.
Thanks Karen! I’d eat cauliflower every day if I could. 🙂
This looks so amazing, as always. Luckily I have a cauliflower in my fridge, I think it will be going into pasta today! And I like to learn that you’re obsessed with white–this is such a nice time of year for it, not that the weather’s cooperating. (Not that I’m complaining.) 🙂
Hahaha! Well it is winter and I too would like to see just a little white stuff on the ground… just a little. 🙂 Have a fabulous weekend!
I agree! Simple flavors sometimes taste was better than over-indulgent complex flavors.
Absolutely. Sometimes too many flavors just muddles up a dish and then one can’t really taste anything. Happy Weekend!
This recipe makes me mouthwatering, I´m sure it tastes fantastic!
Thanks Katya! Happy Weekend 🙂
Truly delicious!! I love all the ingredients.
Thank you! It was a perfect weeknight meal during this very cold winter week. Happy weekend!
Mmm, what a lovely, tempting dish! I’ve always been a fan of cauliflower in any form, too – especially roasted. I’d love for us to get some winter white outside to match this pasta!
Hahaha! I was just saying the same to another local blogger! If it’s going to be this cold we might as well have a little of the white stuff on the ground. 🙂 Happy Weekend Hannah!
Oh. My. Goodness!
This looks like heaven.
Seriously craving right now.
LOL! I know, just a little indulgent. I try to stear clear of indulgent but I couldn’t resist! Hope you’re well my friend. Hugs!
Cauliflower is making a comeback!!! This vegetable has taken the wrap for many years but you are right, it is new crave; roasted, steamed, taking the place of mash potatoes and even used as crusts for pizza. However your pure white concept looks so comforting and delicious. Maybe even my teenagers would eat their veggies if I hid in some yummy pasta like yours. Take care, BAM
I do love mashed cauliflower and love the idea of putting it in pizza crust! My sassy gals are fairly good at eating veggies, although my youngest picks the cauliflower out of this pasta. 🙁
This is beautiful! I can’t wait to try it! Do you happen to have any recommendations for a skillet that works in the oven as well as on the stove? I’ve been asking around the food-blogging universe lately, and would love to hear your opinion too. Love your blog, it’s very elegant and fun at the same time! –Nerd With Taste
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! My preference has always been the brand All-Clad. Emeril Lagassee has a line of cookware that is made by All-Clad but it’s not quite as pricey. I’ve had my set for about 12 years and it goes from stove top to oven beautifully! Be sure the skillet is a heavy bottom skillet and preferably dual core for more even cooking. A good skillet can be pricey, but one of the best investments you’ll ever make. Also, a good quality cast iron skillet is excellent for stove top to oven. I do love Le Creuset but there are also less expensive brands that work well. If you live in the US, I’d check with Macy’s or one of your local kitchen stores. Delicious Wishes! Karista
Oh wow. Now I have to go make some food.
Looks gorgeous Karista!! Looks super delicious and warming and I LOVE the addition of cauliflower.
Thank you! I seem to have a bit of an addiction to cauliflower these days. 🙂