Cauliflower Cheese & Spinach Pasta Bakes
This comforting cauliflower and spinach pasta bake combines layers of rich tomato sauce, cheesy cauliflower and pasta, and garlicky spinach for a flavorful and satisfying dish. Topped with a creamy cheese sauce, nutty pine nuts, and baked until golden and bubbling, it's perfect for a cozy family meal or special gathering. Serve this delicious bake with a side of green salad or garlic bread for a complete and hearty meal. Enjoy every cheesy, flavorful bite!
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 850ml milk
- 50g plain flour
- 50g butter , plus 1 tbsp
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 100g extra mature cheddar , grated
- 25-50g blue cheese
- ½ tsp finely grated nutmeg
- 250g penne
- 1kg cauliflower (2 medium ones), cut into florets
- 750g frozen spinach (whole leaf), defrosted and squeezed dry
- 25g toasted pine nuts
- 4 garlic cloves , 3 sliced, 1 left whole
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 700g jar tomato passata
Instructions
- For the tomato sauce, cook the sliced garlic in the oil for 1 min, then add the passata. Season, half-cover the pan and simmer for 20 mins until rich.
- Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Put the milk, flour and 50g butter into a pan. Heat, whisking non-stop, until smooth, then bubble for 3 mins, stirring to make sure any flouriness is lost. Cool for 5 mins, then stir in the mustard, most of the cheddar, half the blue cheese and half the nutmeg.
- Boil the penne and cauliflower for 8 mins in salted water until the pasta is almost cooked and the cauli is tender. Keep 2 tbsp water from the pan, then drain. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan, add the whole garlic clove, spinach, remaining nutmeg, salt and lots of black pepper. Stir for 2 mins, then remove the garlic clove.
- Set aside 300ml cheese sauce and mix the rest into the cauli and pasta. Divide half the tomato sauce between 6 dishes and top with some spinach. Fill with cauli mix, top with more spinach, then the rest of the tomato sauce. Top with the cheese sauce, cheeses and pine nuts. Cover with cling film, cool and chill for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To cook, defrost if frozen. Heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6. Cook on a baking sheet for 18-20 mins until golden and bubbling. Good with green salad or garlic bread.
Cook Time
45M
Prep Time
PT20M
Yield
Serves 6
Nutrition
- Calories: 591 calories
- Fat Content: 29 grams fat
- Saturated Fat Content: 13 grams saturated fat
- Carbohydrate Content: 60 grams carbohydrates
- Sugar Content: 18 grams sugar
- Fiber Content: 8 grams fiber
- Protein Content: 28 grams protein
- Sodium Content: 1.91 milligram of sodium
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