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Creamy cauliflower rigatoni pasta

Creamy Cauliflower Rigatoni Pasta for Cozy Nights In

This Creamy Cauliflower Rigatoni Pasta captures the warmth of family dinners with a delightful vegetarian twist, all ready in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 plates
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce
  • 1 head Cauliflower fresh or frozen
  • 1 medium Onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic crushed
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • to taste Chili Flakes
  • 1 cup Stock or Water
  • 1 cup Cream heavy or whipping cream
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper
For the Crunchy Garlic Breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 2 cloves Garlic for breadcrumbs
  • 2 cups Ciabatta Bread grated
For the Pasta
  • 500 g Rigatoni Pasta or 1 lb
For Serving
  • to taste Parmesan sprinkle generously
  • to taste Fresh Parsley chopped

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • frying pan
  • Pot
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • knife
  • Cutting Board

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent.
  2. Stir in the crushed garlic (4 cloves), dried thyme, and a pinch of chili flakes. Sauté for another minute until the garlic is fragrant and slightly golden.
  3. Add the chopped cauliflower to the skillet and continue sautéing for about 5-7 minutes, until softened and slightly caramelized.
  4. Pour in 1 cup of stock or water, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Cover partially and let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes.
  5. Once the cauliflower is tender, stir in 1 cup of cream and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
  6. In a separate frying pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add additional crushed garlic and grated ciabatta bread. Cook for about 4-5 minutes until breadcrumbs are golden and crispy.
  7. While making the sauce, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add rigatoni and cook according to package instructions—about 9-11 minutes—until al dente.
  8. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain rigatoni. Add drained pasta to the creamy cauliflower sauce, tossing to coat thoroughly.
  9. Plate the creamy cauliflower rigatoni pasta generously and top it with crispy garlic breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and chopped parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plateCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 12gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

You can prepare the sauce up to 3 days in advance. The crispy garlic breadcrumbs can be stored for up to 2 weeks.

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