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I can’t give up pasta. I’ve tried. I’ve failed.
Or butter. Also tried and failed.
Or cheese. That’s a big fat failure too.
I think I have to accept the fact that I’m just not going to be back down to my wedding weight before our big trip. Sigh. That’s what I get for eating everything in sight the day after the wedding up until about three months ago. Binge eating chicken fingers, cheeseburgers and McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches does not result in a svelte figure — although wouldn’t it be nice if it did??.
Even though I’m ok with not getting back down to my wedding weight, I’d still like to look somewhat decent in a bikini, or as my friend Mandi (who we are going with) so poignantly said, “I’d like to at least have AN ab.” Ha!
Because giving up butter, cheese and pasta is not an option for me, the only solution is to find creative ways to include those vices into my diet without feeling guilty about it.
Enter whole-wheat pasta.
While I do thoroughly enjoy my homemade white flour fettuccine, ravioli and pappardelle, I also have a major infatuation with whole-wheat pasta. I love the toothsome texture and nutty, hearty flavor that whole-wheat pastas offer – plus I don’t feel completely weighed down after eating like I do with traditional pasta. In fact, in some instances I actually prefer whole-wheat pasta – spaghetti and meatballs being one of them.
Of course there’s no alternative to butter, but I’ve found that if you alter it, i.e. brown the butter, you don’t have to use as much to inject tons of flavor into dishes.
Pairing brown butter with equally nutty whole-wheat noodles here was a no-brainer – a match made in nutty heaven if you will. And actually come to think about it, this whole dish is focused on the “nutty” factor.
We have nutty cauliflower that’s roasted under the broiler until slightly charred.
We have pine nuts and garlic that are both toasted in the brown butter.
We have parmesan cheese
And of course we have the aforementioned whole-wheat spaghetti and browned butter.
This is the perfect weeknight dish that comes together in under 30 minutes – which is always a winner in my book. While the pasta is cooking, the cauliflower is roasting – both are finished in approximately the same amount of time. Once the pasta is aldente, I save about a cup of the starchy cooking liquid and drain the pasta. The butter is browned in the same pan, and the garlic and pine nuts are thrown it for a quick toast. The cauliflower and pasta are thrown back into the pan along with a big handful of grated parmesan cheese, and enough cooking liquid to create a velvety sauce.
I wasn’t even prepared for how much I loved this — everything about it — it’s light, yet hearty and full of flavor, and a heckuva lot healthier than my go-to creamy pasta — what’s not to love?
- 12 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
- 1 medium head cauliflower cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes + more to taste
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1//2 cup pine nuts
- Turn the oven to broil.
- Toss the cauliflower with olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Roast until slightly charred, about 15 minutes.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water until just under aldente. Reserve 1 cup of starchy water. Drain and set aside.
- In the same pot you cooked the pasta in, melt the butter over a medium-high heat. Cook until butter begins to brown, swirling pan as it browns. Once the butter becomes a chestnut brown and smells nutty, turn the heat off and throw in garlic and pine nuts, cook until toasted, about 1 minute. Be sure to not burn. Immediately toss in spaghetti.
- Turn the heat back on low. Add in parmesan cheese and toss. Add in cauliflower. Add enough starchy liquid to form a sauce. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
screw the wedding weight, I’d MUCH rather dive into this pasta 🙂 do you girrrl!
Nicole says
Wuahahahahaha yesss
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste says
This is right up my alley! All of my favorite flavors in a single dish – must make ASAP!
Nicole says
Mine too!! Thanks so much Kelly!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Life is just too short to give up delicious foods like pasta, cheese and butter 😀 I think everyone gains weight after the wedding. You are so happy in love you can’t help it 😀 Your pasta dish looks delicious! I love the roasted cauliflower!
Nicole says
I agree Cindy! People that give up the good just are just crazy in my book. Thank you!!
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Everything about this dish is so smart. I love the way you think about food and compose your dishes, Nicole. Not only would I never feel deprived eating something you make, but I could never get enough!! And let’s be honest, giving up any of those yummy things you mentioned, would be a true tragedy. Especially when I look at what you made today 🙂
Nicole says
What a compliment! Thank you so much Kathi! Thank you!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
Love this. I would make this for us any night of the week.
Nicole says
Thanks Norma!
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
Nicole, I can’t seem to give up pasta, butter, or cheeses either! I’m really loving this whole pasta dish. Makes me feel less guilty. 🙂
Nicole says
Definitely less guilty for sure! Thanks Gloria!
ashley - baker by nature says
Yuuuuuuuuum! I just made a pasta almost like this last week and we scraped our plates CLEAN! The brown butter in this recipe is just calling to me!
Nicole says
I did the same thing — I think there may have been some licking of plates involved….. Shhhh…
cheri says
What a gorgeous dish! love roasted cauliflower and brown butter, but have never had together. I bet this is really good.
Nicole says
It was SO good Cheri!! Thank you!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Whole wheat and brown butter?! This is my kind of pasta!! Looks incredible girlfriend!
Pinned
Nicole says
Thanks Taylor!! You’re the best! 🙂
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Wow! That looks fabulous and healthy! I bet I could get everyone in the family to eat this and enjoy it. Pinning!
Nicole says
Thanks Melanie!