CAULIFLOWER CHEESE & SPINACH PASTA BAKES

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Cauliflower cheese & spinach pasta bakes image

Somewhere between macaroni and cauliflower cheese, these pasta bakes are perfect for a cold day

Provided by Jane Hornby

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 14

850ml milk
50g plain flour
50g butter , plus 1 tbsp
1 tsp Dijon mustard
100g extra mature cheddar , grated
25-50g blue cheese
½ tsp finely grated nutmeg
250g penne
1kg cauliflower (2 medium ones), cut into florets
750g frozen spinach (whole leaf), defrosted and squeezed dry
25g toasted pine nuts
4 garlic cloves , 3 sliced, 1 left whole
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
700g jar tomato passata

Steps:

  • For the tomato sauce, cook the sliced garlic in the oil for 1 min, then add the passata. Season, half-cover the pan and simmer for 20 mins until rich.
  • Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Put the milk, flour and 50g butter into a pan. Heat, whisking non-stop, until smooth, then bubble for 3 mins, stirring to make sure any flouriness is lost. Cool for 5 mins, then stir in the mustard, most of the cheddar, half the blue cheese and half the nutmeg.
  • Boil the penne and cauliflower for 8 mins in salted water until the pasta is almost cooked and the cauli is tender. Keep 2 tbsp water from the pan, then drain. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan, add the whole garlic clove, spinach, remaining nutmeg, salt and lots of black pepper. Stir for 2 mins, then remove the garlic clove.
  • Set aside 300ml cheese sauce and mix the rest into the cauli and pasta. Divide half the tomato sauce between 6 dishes and top with some spinach. Fill with cauli mix, top with more spinach, then the rest of the tomato sauce. Top with the cheese sauce, cheeses and pine nuts. Cover with cling film, cool and chill for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To cook, defrost if frozen. Heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6. Cook on a baking sheet for 18-20 mins until golden and bubbling. Good with green salad or garlic bread.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 591 calories, Fat 29 grams fat, SaturatedFat 13 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 60 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 18 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 28 grams protein, Sodium 1.91 milligram of sodium

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