Cauliflower "Alfredo" Sauce - LIFE CHANGING.

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  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,229 Member
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    When was the last time you had a big plate of rich, creamy pasta alfredo for under 400 calories? Never? Well then gather round, children!

    I love pasta. And all other carbs. And anything made with cream and butter and flour! I was so happy to discover a way to enjoy the taste of these things without the 1,200 calorie bill. I was skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer! I served the sauce over whole wheat penne with broccoli. I would have added chicken but I was feeling pretty lazy. Now, if you are REALLY trying to make your calories stretch as much as possible, you can omit the olive oil and parmesan cheese, but I wanted it to taste more like true alfredo sauce and less like pureed cauliflower... so I bit the bullet, and trust me: it really does make all the difference!

    *THIS RECIPE WAS PICKY HUSBAND APPROVED!*

    1/2 head cauliflower (about 4 cups florets)
    3/4 c broth (I used chicken)
    1/4-1/2 c milk (depending on how thick and creamy you prefer)
    1 T EVOO
    1/4 c Parmesan cheese
    1 clove minced garlic (sauteed) OR 1 tsp garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder (or chopped onion)
    Parsley flakes to taste
    Salt and pepper to taste

    Boil the cauliflower for 10 minutes until tender (I boiled it in broth for maximum flavor absorption :)), then transfer cauliflower to blender or food processor. Add broth and blend until very smooth. Add milk until desired consistency is reached. Add olive oil, cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend to combine. Serve hot.

    Makes about 3 cups, the perfect amount for one box of pasta. Sauce freezes and thaws well. When reheating leftovers, add a few drops of milk and stir to make it creamy again... it tends to get a little dry over night.

    This sauce is also a wonder base for casseroles and makes a wonderful addition to many other recipes! I think cauliflower is my new best friend.

    When I made the sauce, it came out to 60 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Much better than alfredo sauce which has 500 calories per 1/2 cup serving!

    Enjoy!

    Stahp it, alfredo is only butter + parm, you can't substitute cauliflower for either

    I was going to say if you take out the cauliflower, you would still have an alfredo sauce. What is the point of sticking cauliflower in it?

    As a matter of fact, if you take out the cauliflower and replace it with broccolli, and take out the parm and replace it with cheddar, you would have cheddar and broccolli soup.

    Still trying to understand why this recipe is better than a regular alfredo considering the ingredients are sure to bump up the calories in it.
  • lizreed12
    lizreed12 Posts: 11 Member
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    If you guys want to eat alfredo sauce, go right ahead. All you have to do is just ignore the recipe, you don't need to come on here and debase people who are just trying to share healthier alternatives. Get off your high horse. It's just sauce.
  • LifeIsNotADressRehearsal
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    Bump! Sounds great - thanks for sharing!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,229 Member
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    If you guys want to eat alfredo sauce, go right ahead. All you have to do is just ignore the recipe, you don't need to come on here and debase people who are just trying to share healthier alternatives. Get off your high horse. It's just sauce.

    I'm just trying to understand why it is healthier?
  • wanderlustlover
    wanderlustlover Posts: 84 Member
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    Oh, oh, oh. I love mashed cauliflower, so getting on doing this, too!
  • lizreed12
    lizreed12 Posts: 11 Member
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    When was the last time you had a big plate of rich, creamy pasta alfredo for under 400 calories? Never? Well then gather round, children!

    I love pasta. And all other carbs. And anything made with cream and butter and flour! I was so happy to discover a way to enjoy the taste of these things without the 1,200 calorie bill. I was skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer! I served the sauce over whole wheat penne with broccoli. I would have added chicken but I was feeling pretty lazy. Now, if you are REALLY trying to make your calories stretch as much as possible, you can omit the olive oil and parmesan cheese, but I wanted it to taste more like true alfredo sauce and less like pureed cauliflower... so I bit the bullet, and trust me: it really does make all the difference!

    *THIS RECIPE WAS PICKY HUSBAND APPROVED!*

    1/2 head cauliflower (about 4 cups florets)
    3/4 c broth (I used chicken)
    1/4-1/2 c milk (depending on how thick and creamy you prefer)
    1 T EVOO
    1/4 c Parmesan cheese
    1 clove minced garlic (sauteed) OR 1 tsp garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder (or chopped onion)
    Parsley flakes to taste
    Salt and pepper to taste

    Boil the cauliflower for 10 minutes until tender (I boiled it in broth for maximum flavor absorption :)), then transfer cauliflower to blender or food processor. Add broth and blend until very smooth. Add milk until desired consistency is reached. Add olive oil, cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend to combine. Serve hot.

    Makes about 3 cups, the perfect amount for one box of pasta. Sauce freezes and thaws well. When reheating leftovers, add a few drops of milk and stir to make it creamy again... it tends to get a little dry over night.

    This sauce is also a wonder base for casseroles and makes a wonderful addition to many other recipes! I think cauliflower is my new best friend.

    When I made the sauce, it came out to 60 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Much better than alfredo sauce which has 500 calories per 1/2 cup serving!

    Enjoy!

    Stahp it, alfredo is only butter + parm, you can't substitute cauliflower for either

    I was going to say if you take out the cauliflower, you would still have an alfredo sauce. What is the point of sticking cauliflower in it?

    As a matter of fact, if you take out the cauliflower and replace it with broccolli, and take out the parm and replace it with cheddar, you would have cheddar and broccolli soup.

    Still trying to understand why this recipe is better than a regular alfredo considering the ingredients are sure to bump up the calories in it.

    Cauliflower as the base for the sauce makes it less calorie dense. There is only 1/4 cup of cheese and 1 tablespoon of oil in the ENTIRE recipe, whereas alfredo sauce is all cheese and butter and cream.... do the math. 50 calories vs. 500 calories. Not that hard to figure out why it's better for you. And it tastes good. If it tasted bad, I wouldn't post it.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,026 Member
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    Tuh, my Cauliflower Oatmeal was better.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
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    If you guys want to eat alfredo sauce, go right ahead. All you have to do is just ignore the recipe, you don't need to come on here and debase people who are just trying to share healthier alternatives. Get off your high horse. It's just sauce.

    I'm just trying to understand why it is healthier?

    Cauliflower is the new acai berry, kale, etc ... aka fad diet food..it seems..hahaha
  • kathyvstephan
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    BUMP
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,324 Member
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  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,229 Member
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    When was the last time you had a big plate of rich, creamy pasta alfredo for under 400 calories? Never? Well then gather round, children!

    I love pasta. And all other carbs. And anything made with cream and butter and flour! I was so happy to discover a way to enjoy the taste of these things without the 1,200 calorie bill. I was skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer! I served the sauce over whole wheat penne with broccoli. I would have added chicken but I was feeling pretty lazy. Now, if you are REALLY trying to make your calories stretch as much as possible, you can omit the olive oil and parmesan cheese, but I wanted it to taste more like true alfredo sauce and less like pureed cauliflower... so I bit the bullet, and trust me: it really does make all the difference!

    *THIS RECIPE WAS PICKY HUSBAND APPROVED!*

    1/2 head cauliflower (about 4 cups florets)
    3/4 c broth (I used chicken)
    1/4-1/2 c milk (depending on how thick and creamy you prefer)
    1 T EVOO
    1/4 c Parmesan cheese
    1 clove minced garlic (sauteed) OR 1 tsp garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder (or chopped onion)
    Parsley flakes to taste
    Salt and pepper to taste

    Boil the cauliflower for 10 minutes until tender (I boiled it in broth for maximum flavor absorption :)), then transfer cauliflower to blender or food processor. Add broth and blend until very smooth. Add milk until desired consistency is reached. Add olive oil, cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend to combine. Serve hot.

    Makes about 3 cups, the perfect amount for one box of pasta. Sauce freezes and thaws well. When reheating leftovers, add a few drops of milk and stir to make it creamy again... it tends to get a little dry over night.

    This sauce is also a wonder base for casseroles and makes a wonderful addition to many other recipes! I think cauliflower is my new best friend.

    When I made the sauce, it came out to 60 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Much better than alfredo sauce which has 500 calories per 1/2 cup serving!

    Enjoy!

    Stahp it, alfredo is only butter + parm, you can't substitute cauliflower for either

    I was going to say if you take out the cauliflower, you would still have an alfredo sauce. What is the point of sticking cauliflower in it?

    As a matter of fact, if you take out the cauliflower and replace it with broccolli, and take out the parm and replace it with cheddar, you would have cheddar and broccolli soup.

    Still trying to understand why this recipe is better than a regular alfredo considering the ingredients are sure to bump up the calories in it.

    Cauliflower as the base for the sauce makes it less calorie dense. There is only 1/4 cup of cheese and 1 tablespoon of oil in the ENTIRE recipe, whereas alfredo sauce is all cheese and butter and cream.... do the math. 50 calories vs. 500 calories. Not that hard to figure out why it's better for you. And it tastes good. If it tasted bad, I wouldn't post it.

    But all those same ingredients would make an alfredo sauce without the cauliflower?
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
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    If you guys want to eat alfredo sauce, go right ahead. All you have to do is just ignore the recipe, you don't need to come on here and debase people who are just trying to share healthier alternatives. Get off your high horse. It's just sauce.

    You sound like you could use a treat! Have you tried cauliflower white chocolate? Instead of all the bad stuff in it, you just blend cauliflower with a little bit of cocoa butter--presto!
  • oregonzoo
    oregonzoo Posts: 4,251 Member
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    No.

    If I want alfredo. I am eating the alfredo. Cauliflower is not and never will be a good substitute for anything.... EVER.
    EXCEPT maybe broccoli. I mean I've had raw broccoli 4 x this week.
    Califlower would be a nice change of pace.

    Wish I had some.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
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    Tuh, my Cauliflower Oatmeal was better.

    YEah but my Cauliflower mimosa's were even better than that. Remember?
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Options
    When was the last time you had a big plate of rich, creamy pasta alfredo for under 400 calories? Never? Well then gather round, children!

    I love pasta. And all other carbs. And anything made with cream and butter and flour! I was so happy to discover a way to enjoy the taste of these things without the 1,200 calorie bill. I was skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer! I served the sauce over whole wheat penne with broccoli. I would have added chicken but I was feeling pretty lazy. Now, if you are REALLY trying to make your calories stretch as much as possible, you can omit the olive oil and parmesan cheese, but I wanted it to taste more like true alfredo sauce and less like pureed cauliflower... so I bit the bullet, and trust me: it really does make all the difference!

    *THIS RECIPE WAS PICKY HUSBAND APPROVED!*

    1/2 head cauliflower (about 4 cups florets)
    3/4 c broth (I used chicken)
    1/4-1/2 c milk (depending on how thick and creamy you prefer)
    1 T EVOO
    1/4 c Parmesan cheese
    1 clove minced garlic (sauteed) OR 1 tsp garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder (or chopped onion)
    Parsley flakes to taste
    Salt and pepper to taste

    Boil the cauliflower for 10 minutes until tender (I boiled it in broth for maximum flavor absorption :)), then transfer cauliflower to blender or food processor. Add broth and blend until very smooth. Add milk until desired consistency is reached. Add olive oil, cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend to combine. Serve hot.

    Makes about 3 cups, the perfect amount for one box of pasta. Sauce freezes and thaws well. When reheating leftovers, add a few drops of milk and stir to make it creamy again... it tends to get a little dry over night.

    This sauce is also a wonder base for casseroles and makes a wonderful addition to many other recipes! I think cauliflower is my new best friend.

    When I made the sauce, it came out to 60 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Much better than alfredo sauce which has 500 calories per 1/2 cup serving!

    Enjoy!

    Stahp it, alfredo is only butter + parm, you can't substitute cauliflower for either

    I was going to say if you take out the cauliflower, you would still have an alfredo sauce. What is the point of sticking cauliflower in it?

    As a matter of fact, if you take out the cauliflower and replace it with broccolli, and take out the parm and replace it with cheddar, you would have cheddar and broccolli soup.

    Still trying to understand why this recipe is better than a regular alfredo considering the ingredients are sure to bump up the calories in it.

    Cauliflower as the base for the sauce makes it less calorie dense. There is only 1/4 cup of cheese and 1 tablespoon of oil in the ENTIRE recipe, whereas alfredo sauce is all cheese and butter and cream.... do the math. 50 calories vs. 500 calories. Not that hard to figure out why it's better for you. And it tastes good. If it tasted bad, I wouldn't post it.

    But all those same ingredients would make an alfredo sauce without the cauliflower?

    Exactly. What was the cauliflower for? Doesn't seem to be the main focus/ingredient despite the name. If it had not been included, would it have changed the taste, texture, acidity, thickness/thinness, etc. Right now, it just sounds like a filler with no purpose then to just buff the amount that is being eaten.
  • leahalissa
    leahalissa Posts: 88 Member
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    Yum! Saving this!
  • 012358
    012358 Posts: 1
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    If you keep the liquid down and add an egg you can make cauliflower mashed potatoes or use a pipping bog (plastic bag with a corner cut off) to make tater tots!! My husband loves them!
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
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    bump
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
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    How come you put my uncle's name in Quotes? That's his real name. And he never made a sauce like this? He just put huge chunks of cauliflower into a soup with other big stuff like huge potato and carrot pieces and chicken or some meat with a big bone in it. I think he called it "caldo". I know I called it, yum.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Options
    When was the last time you had a big plate of rich, creamy pasta alfredo for under 400 calories? Never? Well then gather round, children!

    I love pasta. And all other carbs. And anything made with cream and butter and flour! I was so happy to discover a way to enjoy the taste of these things without the 1,200 calorie bill. I was skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer! I served the sauce over whole wheat penne with broccoli. I would have added chicken but I was feeling pretty lazy. Now, if you are REALLY trying to make your calories stretch as much as possible, you can omit the olive oil and parmesan cheese, but I wanted it to taste more like true alfredo sauce and less like pureed cauliflower... so I bit the bullet, and trust me: it really does make all the difference!

    *THIS RECIPE WAS PICKY HUSBAND APPROVED!*

    1/2 head cauliflower (about 4 cups florets)
    3/4 c broth (I used chicken)
    1/4-1/2 c milk (depending on how thick and creamy you prefer)
    1 T EVOO
    1/4 c Parmesan cheese
    1 clove minced garlic (sauteed) OR 1 tsp garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder (or chopped onion)
    Parsley flakes to taste
    Salt and pepper to taste

    Boil the cauliflower for 10 minutes until tender (I boiled it in broth for maximum flavor absorption :)), then transfer cauliflower to blender or food processor. Add broth and blend until very smooth. Add milk until desired consistency is reached. Add olive oil, cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend to combine. Serve hot.

    Makes about 3 cups, the perfect amount for one box of pasta. Sauce freezes and thaws well. When reheating leftovers, add a few drops of milk and stir to make it creamy again... it tends to get a little dry over night.

    This sauce is also a wonder base for casseroles and makes a wonderful addition to many other recipes! I think cauliflower is my new best friend.

    When I made the sauce, it came out to 60 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Much better than alfredo sauce which has 500 calories per 1/2 cup serving!

    Enjoy!

    Stahp it, alfredo is only butter + parm, you can't substitute cauliflower for either

    I was going to say if you take out the cauliflower, you would still have an alfredo sauce. What is the point of sticking cauliflower in it?

    As a matter of fact, if you take out the cauliflower and replace it with broccolli, and take out the parm and replace it with cheddar, you would have cheddar and broccolli soup.

    Still trying to understand why this recipe is better than a regular alfredo considering the ingredients are sure to bump up the calories in it.

    Cauliflower as the base for the sauce makes it less calorie dense. There is only 1/4 cup of cheese and 1 tablespoon of oil in the ENTIRE recipe, whereas alfredo sauce is all cheese and butter and cream.... do the math. 50 calories vs. 500 calories. Not that hard to figure out why it's better for you. And it tastes good. If it tasted bad, I wouldn't post it.

    But all those same ingredients would make an alfredo sauce without the cauliflower?

    Exactly. What was the cauliflower for? Doesn't seem to be the main focus/ingredient despite the name. If it had not been included, would it have changed the taste, texture, acidity, thickness/thinness, etc. Right now, it just sounds like a filler with no purpose then to just buff the amount that is being eaten.

    which could be easily buffered by just pouring the original sauce over cauliflower instead of pasta and getting the same or similar nutritional profile.