Name: Creamy Alcohol-Free Cauliflower alla Vodka
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 5 cups cauliflower florets, cut into ½-inch to 1-inch pieces; ½ cup chopped yellow onion; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 3 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon); 1 teaspoon salt-free dried Italian seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash); ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce; ½ cup heavy cream; ¼ cup water; ¾ cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese; Chopped fresh basil for garnish (optional); 4 (1-ounce) pieces crusty whole-wheat baguette, toasted

Directions

Tip: Tap steps to mark as completed

1 Warm 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a large broiler-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the 5 cups of cauliflower and ½ cup of onion. Let them cook for about 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion softens and light brown spots appear on the cauliflower.

2 Spoon in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, then add the minced garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper. Stir continuously for about 1 minute, stopping once the seasonings smell fragrant.

3 Pour the tomato sauce, ½ cup heavy cream, and ¼ cup water into the skillet. Stir everything together and lower the heat enough to keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. Continue cooking for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until a fork slides easily into the cauliflower and the sauce has thickened.

4 While the cauliflower simmers, set the oven to broil and position an oven rack in the upper third.

5 Scatter ¾ cup mozzarella evenly across the cauliflower mixture. Transfer the skillet beneath the broiler for about 5 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt and develop light golden patches. Add chopped basil if desired and serve with the toasted baguette pieces.

Creamy Alcohol-Free Cauliflower alla Vodka

Table of Contents

The Story Behind This Dish