Description
Enjoy a creamy and delicious pasta dish without the guilt! This recipe swaps traditional heavy cream for a light cauliflower puree, creating a surprisingly rich and satisfying Alfredo sauce that’s perfect for a healthy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other plant-based milk)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for non-vegan)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta is cooking, steam or boil the cauliflower florets until very tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the cauliflower well and transfer it to a blender or food processor.
- Add the minced garlic, nutritional yeast, olive oil, and almond milk to the blender.
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy. You may need to add a tablespoon or two of water or reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- In a large skillet, heat the cauliflower sauce over medium heat.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce.
- Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water until it loosens up.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, if using.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can roast the cauliflower florets before pureeing.
- Adjust the amount of garlic to your preference.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like steamed broccoli or peas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling, Steaming, Blending, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approximately 350-400 (varies based on ingredients)
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A