Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Name: Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 head cauliflower florets; 2 to 3 garlic cloves; Extra-virgin olive oil; Vegetable broth or water; Parmesan cheese; Fresh lemon juice; Sea salt; Freshly ground black pepper; Pasta for serving; Fresh parsley optional

Cauliflower blended until very tender with garlic, Parmesan, and lemon — a smooth Alfredo-style sauce that tastes far richer than it has any right to.

DifficultyEasyTotal time30 minServes4

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Overview

Prep10 min

Cook20 min

Total30 min

Servings4

DifficultyEasy

Equipment

Large pot
Blender

Method

Boil the water

Bring a pot of water to a boil.

Cook the cauliflower

Add the cauliflower and cook until very tender.

Transfer to the blender

Drain the cauliflower and transfer it to a blender.

Add the seasonings

Add garlic, olive oil, vegetable broth, Parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Blend

Blend until completely smooth and creamy.

Cook the pasta

Cook your pasta until al dente, reserving some pasta water.

Toss

Toss the pasta with the cauliflower Alfredo sauce.

Loosen the sauce

Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.

Finish

Taste, adjust the seasoning, and finish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.

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Tips

NoteDon't stop cooking the cauliflower when it's merely tender. For a genuinely creamy sauce, I want it very soft.

NoteThis is also one of those sauces that becomes thicker as it sits, so loosen leftovers with a splash of water before reheating.

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Nutrition

AllergensDairy, Gluten if served with standard pasta

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Storage

RefrigeratorSauce keeps up to 4 days refrigerated; it thickens as it sits, so loosen with water before reheating.

Frequently asked

Can I make it vegan?+

Yes — skip the Parmesan and add nutritional yeast plus a little extra salt; the cauliflower still carries the creaminess.

Can I roast the cauliflower instead?+

Absolutely — roasted florets give the sauce a deeper, nuttier flavor; blend with a little more broth to loosen.

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