Pasta with cauliflower, toasted bread crumbs, cheese and a mysterious ingredient... anchovies.
You don't think you like anchovies? Don't leave them out! They really give this simple dish a wonderful savoriness, not fishy at all. You'd be surprised how many of your favorite Italian dishes have anchovies in them.
This recipe was adapted from my Sicilian friend Julia, from Julia's Healthy Italian Cooking. She has a gift of whipping up delicious Italian meals in minutes!
For a gluten-free option, use brown rice pasta for 8 points plus.
Pasta with Cauliflower
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 7 pts
Calories: 274.4 • Fat: 6.1 g • Carb: 51.0 g • Fiber: 8.7 g • Protein: 11.2 g
- 12 oz spaghetti (Ronzoni Smart Taste or whole wheat)
- 1 large head cauliflower, roughly chopped (about 3 cups)
- 3 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs (I used whole wheat)
- 5 anchovies
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 6 tbsp Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
Boil pasta in salted water according to directions for al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup water.
Meanwhile, steam cauliflower (or boil) until tender. Set aside.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of oil to a small frying pan and toast breadcrumbs, careful not to burn. Set aside.
In a large frying pan sauté anchovies in remaining tablespoon of olive oil until they begin to dissolve. Add onions and cook on medium heat until golden. Add steamed cauliflower and mix well.
Toss pasta with parsley, cheese, cauliflower, 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water, (more if needed) and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Divide evenly between 6 plates. Top with toasted bread crumbs and serve. Enjoy!!
I made a very similar dish a few weeks ago. We all loved it. My daughter fought us for the left overs. I like your idea to use whole wheat spaghetti. I will try it next time.
ReplyDeleteAh! I just saw this recipe in the latest Good Housekeeping and put it on our menu for this week! I'll have to see how the recipes compare. Cauliflower and anchovies are two things I normally don't like, but for some reason it all seems to be great in this dish! Can't wait to try it :)
ReplyDeleteI had to cut back on the olive oil to keep the points down, but this is really a lovely dish.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful recipe! I have never tried pasta with cauliflower and I adore cauliflower, it's one of my favorite veggies. That's it I'm making this tonight! heehee :)
ReplyDeleteI have an irrational dislike of cauliflower (I can't get past the idea that I think it tastes like mold) but I really like the simplicity of this pasta topping.
ReplyDeleteCould you suggest an alternative vegetable? Or is it better left alone?
You could use broccoli or zuchini. I love raw cauliflower but hate it cooked so this is the alternatives I would try.
DeleteThis sounds great. Would anchovie paste work instead of whole anchovies?
ReplyDeleteThis looks delish! I love your recipes. Will you please just come live at my house and cook for us every day?
ReplyDeleteI love cauliflower but don't eat it that often! I should defiantly try this out!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delicious! I might try it with roasted instead of steamed cauliflower.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good! I LOVE cauliflower!
ReplyDeleteHolly, :)
ReplyDeleteYou can use anchovy paste if you prefer, roasted cauliflower would be delicious!
I'm SO moving closer to whr u live my friend 'cos it hasn't been even once that I didn't like what u posted here and all of them look so doable! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe! I am a huge fan of cauliflower, so I will have to make this soon!
ReplyDeleteIt looks delicous can't wait to try it!!
ReplyDeleteI love pasta with cauliflower! This looks like a particularly tasty version.
ReplyDeleteif you dont use the anchovies does it lower the points+?
ReplyDeleteWe all loved it. My daughter fought us for the left overs. I like your idea to use whole wheat spaghetti. I will try it next.Cauliflower and anchovies are two things I normally don't like, but for some reason it all seems to be great in this dish
ReplyDeleteThis just looks devine! I love cauliflower, not a huge fan of anchovies, but I know what you mean about it adding the savory factor. I will have to give this one a try!
ReplyDeleteGina...this is my first posting on your site...wanted to tell you how much I love it. I LOVE to cook and it's so cool that I can still cook delicious meals and lose weight. I have lost 40lbs on WW since October! Trying this recipe this weekend. (the baked potato soup was awesome!!)
ReplyDeleteI lived in Sicily for 3 years, and this is one of my favorite recipes that I learned while there. The anchovies truly make the dish! Sicilians use broccoli and cauliflower interchangeably, so cauliflower haters have another option. For more flavor, try adding some minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Also, make sure to use a high quality cheese. No powdered junk out of a can! I like to use a mix of Pecorino and Parmigiano cheeses.
ReplyDeleteJust made this recipe- so good and filling!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat Christy!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I bet garlic and red pepper flakes would be delicious! And yes!! Good cheese is a must!! The kind from the can is not an option.
I'm scared of anchovies! Promise me they taste great in this dish and I will give them a try! lol
ReplyDeleteJust made this tonight, I used anchovy paste and I roasted the cauliflower. It was absolutely delicious.
ReplyDeleteI promise!!! Break them up small while they cook.
ReplyDeleteIf you are using Anchovy paste instead how much do you use?
ReplyDelete2-3 inches should do it.
ReplyDeleteWe made this and it came out really bland, I'm not sure what we did wrong.
ReplyDeleteThis was absolutely delicious! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo so good! my husband added some chicken for protein and it was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThird recipe from this site this week and it was another hit!!! So tasty. I was scared of the anchovies but the flavors were amazing. YUMMMMMM!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try this one tonight! I love cauliflower but struggle with various ways to incorporate into my recipes!
ReplyDeleteI made this tonight and it wasn't one of my favorite dishes. I don't think the recipe was lacking anything. I just think it wasn't my type of meal.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginny, guess what, tomorrow night it is this menu. I love ur site. This is just what i needed. All ur receipes look so good. Keep um coming.
ReplyDeleteCould u imagine, not having to hurt your head about what to cook for breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner. I love it.
I think you have to like cauliflower to enjoy this. I love it!!
ReplyDeleteLast night was the second time making. It is quick to make under 30 minutes and delicious. My daughter loves the white broccoli.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to make this tonight and was wondering if the Bread Crumbs have to be whole wheat (couldn't find that kind in the store)... If not, will it mess with the points plus at all?
Brandi, I don't think it effects the points per serving.
ReplyDeletethis was delicious.. I made it like the recipe says above for me and for my skinny minny hubby I added some sweet italian sausage. He loved it as well.
ReplyDeleteIn my traditional family version of this dish, small chunks of romano are sauteed with the breadcrumb topping. Th e same breadcrumb mixture is used to stuff artichokes.......
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiousity, why would gluten-free be more WW PointsPlus? Aren't gluten-free products less processed and healthier for you?
ReplyDeleteI think gluten-free pasta is more points, but I don't think it's any healthier than wheat pasta, just better for those who can't eat gluten.
ReplyDeleteDelicious. I roasted my cauliflower and added some red pepper flakes just to spice it up. A definite repeater in our house!
ReplyDeleteI've never bought, eaten, or cooked with anchovies before. I'm up for trying this dish but I don't know where to purchase anchovies. Can I find them in a supermarket? Are they canned? I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteComes in a small glass jar, check the supermarket. They also sell anchovy paste which comes in a tube you squeeze out. That would work too.
ReplyDeleteSo good! I made it tonight and am having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI made this dish yesterday. I found it to be a bit bland. I used anchovy paste...maybe not enough. I will try it again using the amount you suggested (2-3inches) above. FYI, for those that are afraid of anchovies, I don't like them on their own either, but they definitely add much taste to recipes.
ReplyDeleteWhole anchovies are so much better than the paste. I find the paste to be bland. Try it with whole next time, and use all 5.
ReplyDeleteI made this yesterday and it has a really great taste to it!! sooooo good. I think next time I will be putting big chunks of garlic in it, I felt like that was the only thing really missing....but this is a goodie!!!
ReplyDeleteMade this for the first time last night. I added 3 cloves of chopped garlic and a good dose of red crushed pepper flakes at the same time I put the onions in (and skipped adding any salt and pepper at the end). SO good.
ReplyDeleteWould making it without the anchovies (I just can't bring myself to eat them), change the points value?
ReplyDeleteIf I use anchovy paste how much would be equivalent to 5 anchovies?
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law makes this dish and she cooks the cauliflower first,sets it aside and uses that water to cook the pasta.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, my Sicilian grandpa used to make a similar dish, just used broccoli instead of cauliflower, it's soooo yumm. I never thought that I would find a similar recipe on such a traditional (and rural) Sicilian dish.
ReplyDeleteFor those who don't like anchovies, you can use garlic instead. it gives the pasta a really nice flavour. When you toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet, add finely chopped garlic and mix well. continue as shown in recipe.
I made this tonight for my family. I was skeptical about the anchovies but it was delicious and my 10 month old gobbled it up! I found the anchovies did leave a little fishy taste but it wasn't strong. I love the idea of using garlic instead and maybe just a dash of anchovy paste! Thanks again Gina, you are helping me make a little foodie of my baby girl!
ReplyDeleteI just made that and it is sooo good !!!! I left the anchovies out because I just don't eat fish but it is still delicious !!! Thank You Gina I visit your site often and my friends and I are losing weight with your help =0)
ReplyDelete