Riced Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
(from BearNakedBaker’s recipe box)
Serving size 1 cup
Source: BNBWW
Prep time: 40 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Serves 8 people
Categories: dinner
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. salted butter
- 1/2 cup Reduced fat shredded Mexican style blend cheese
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp. grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 2 Tbsp
- uncooked cauliflower (2 lbs)
- 4 thinly sliced uncooked carrot(s)
- 4 medium, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fat free reduced sodium vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup cream cheese spread
- 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup swiss cheese
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
- 8 oz uncooked macaroni
Directions
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a large saucepot of salted water to a boil.
-
Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat; add panko and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted, 4 minutes. Transfer to small bowl and let cool; stir in Pecorino and set aside.
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Cut 3 cups small florets from cauliflower; set aside. Cut remaining cauliflower (including stem) into 2-inch pieces. Add cauliflower pieces and carrots to boiling water; cook until very tender, 10–12 minutes.
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Meanwhile, combine broth, cream cheese, mustard, 1/4 c Cheddar, Gruyère, salt and pepper sauce in a large blender. With a large slotted spoon, transfer cooked vegetables to blender; puree into a creamy sauce.
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Add pasta to same pot of boiling water; cook half the time of package directions, adding reserved cauliflower florets during last minute of cooking. Drain pasta and cauliflower; return to pot and stir in pureed sauce.
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Coat a 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray; spoon pasta mixture into prepared pan in an even layer. Sprinkle dish with remaining 1/4 c Cheddar and reserved crumb mixture; bake until golden on top, 25–30 minutes.