LIGHTER SPAGHETTI ALFREDO WITH CAULIFLOWER

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Lighter Spaghetti Alfredo with Cauliflower image

This cauliflower spaghetti Alfredo is a great 'bridge' recipe, helping us transition from rich, decadent offerings to much leaner fare. I also love the dusting of crispy Parmesan breadcrumbs that top this delicious pasta. This tastes and feels very rich, but is actually quite light. Enjoy!

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 17

3 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 head cauliflower, cored and separated into florets
4 cups water
½ teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) package spaghetti
½ cup fine dried bread crumbs
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnishing
freshly ground black pepper to taste
½ lemon, juiced

Steps:

  • Cook and stir garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cauliflower, water, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to taste. Bring water to a boil, cover, and cook until cauliflower is tender, about 10 minutes.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.
  • Meanwhile, combine bread crumbs, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until cheese has melted and mixture is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat, sprinkle with salt to taste, and mix in basil; set aside.
  • Add cream to cauliflower mixture and puree in the pot with a stick blender until smooth and creamy. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese until melted; season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  • Mix in lemon juice with spaghetti and stir in Alfredo sauce to coat pasta. Serve topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and the seasoned bread crumb mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 660.4 calories, Carbohydrate 91.4 g, Cholesterol 35 mg, Fat 23.1 g, Fiber 9.4 g, Protein 23.6 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 413.3 mg, Sugar 4.5 g

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