I love homemade mac and cheese, but I wanted to create a version I could serve frequently to my family, without any guilt. While this recipe isn't completely virtuous, it's much better than any traditional version, as it contains two servings of vegetables in every bowl. The base is a silky cauliflower cream sauce that provides body and texture, without a drop of flour or cream. To up the vegetable content, I add in fresh spinach leaves just before the pasta is done cooking. You can use any vegetable your family enjoys; try kale, peas or chopped broccoli!

Recipe courtesy of Alex Caspero

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Total:: 45 min
Prep:: 15 min
Cook:: 30 min

Yield:: 4 servings

Level:: Easy

Nutrition Info

Healthy

Ingredients

3 cups cauliflower florets
8 ounces mini shells, mini penne, wheels or other small pasta shape
3 cups baby spinach leaves
1 tablespoon butter
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup low-fat milk
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cup shredded white Cheddar
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan

Directions

In a medium saucepan, bring the cauliflower and 3 cups water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the cauliflower is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook until al dente according to the package directions. Just before pasta is set to be done, add the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain in a colander and set aside.

In the empty pasta pot, melt the butter over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook until the garlic is soft but not burnt, about 2 minutes.

Add the cooked garlic, steamed cauliflower, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 cup water to a blender and puree until creamy and smooth. Depending on the power of your blender, you may need to add more water.

Return the cauliflower sauce back to the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the shredded Cheddar and stir until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in the cooked noodles, spinach and Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Cook's Note

To transform this into a baked dish, add 1/4 cup more milk to the cauliflower mixture. Place the pasta and sauce in a casserole dish. Top with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs mixed with 1/8 cup grated Parmesan, then bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees F.

My Private Notes

Name: Stovetop White Cheddar Mac
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H45M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 cups cauliflower florets; 8 ounces mini shells, mini penne, wheels or other small pasta shape; 3 cups baby spinach leaves; 1 tablespoon butter; 2 large cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 cup low-fat milk; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 1/2 cup shredded white Cheddar; 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan

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Cauliflower gets the royal treatment with a cheesy, bacony kale stuffing.

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