Toasted Cauliflower Buttered Noodles.
We can’t get enough of these toasted cauliflower buttered noodles! Skillet toasted cauliflower florets are tossed with tender pasta noodles, lots of parmesan cheese, butter and toasty breadcrumbs. Major comfort food!
Here’s a meal we can’t get enough of!
You know that I love an embarrassingly easy meal.
And these toasted cauliflower buttered noodles are just that. Cauliflower that is pan toasted in lots of butter until golden and crisp and then tossed with tender noodles, tons of parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.
Yes yes. This is exactly what it sounds like.
Skillet toasted cauliflower.
Buttered noodles with parmesan.
All mixed together. Topped with more parm. Topped with a few breadcrumbs! Sprinkled with fresh herbs if you want.
Holy freaking comfort food.
It tastes amazing. It is super cozy and comes together fast. But at the same time, it has a vegetable, so… you know. You’re eating vegetables!!
Don’t tell me otherwise. This is just how it goes.
This is one of my favorite side dishes to serve in the winter months.
But it also makes a great easy dinner. A kid dinner for when Eddie isn’t home. Or an easy late night snack too.
Everyone loves it and at this stage in the kid game, nothing can be that. My kids actually REQUEST it.
So that’s huge.
The cauliflower gets toasted in the skillet first. Next, you add in the noodles with more butter and parmesan.
On the side, toast some breadcrumbs.
Is there anything cozier than buttered noodles?! I think not.
A little bit of the starchy pasta water brings the whole thing together in a silky, creamy noodle way. These are so soft and savory and cheesy. They taste like heaven and have a tiny bit of crunch on top.
Fresh herbs aren’t necessary, but add a little refreshing brightness. It’s a simple cozy dish that can make its way into your menu plan!
Toasted Cauliflower Buttered Noodles
Toasted Cauliflower Buttered Noodles
Ingredients
- 8 ounces short cut pasta noodles (I use mafalda)
- 1 small to medium cauliflower, cut into florets
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- kosher salt and pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup starchy pasta water
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup seasoned bread crumbs
- fresh herbs, for topping (parsley, cilantro, basil, chives, etc)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions. Make sure to reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. Make the cauliflower while the pasta cooks.
- Cut the cauliflower into florets that are bite-sized. Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cauliflower with a pinch of salt and pepper and toss well. Cook, stirring often, until the cauliflower turns deeply golden broth, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic.
- Add the noodles to the skillet with the remaining butter. Toss well. Add the starchy pasta water. Add in the parmesan cheese and stir until it melts.
- Heat 1 more tablespoon of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and stir to coat. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, until toasty. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of the noodles.
- Add some fresh herbs if you’d like, then serve!
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Creamy, cheesy, crunchy.
2 Comments on “Toasted Cauliflower Buttered Noodles.”
DELICIOUS!!! I’m envisioning this along side a yummy meatloaf 😋
Made this tonight as written plus some sauteed mushrooms to stretch the ingredients a bit. Our family of two adults and a toddler loved it! I was worried it might not pack enough punch for my tastebuds but resisted the urge to doctor it and it was comforting and full-flavoured. Will make again. I used cilantro as that’s what I had on hand. My partner added a squeeze of lemon when he was adding lemon to his water but I tasted both and it was great with or without!