Charred Cauliflower Carbonara.
Say that three times fast.
Tell me… what do you get when you roast cauliflower in bacon grease?
Heaven on earth. That’s what.
Way before I had a come-to-Jesus meeting with vegetables, like in my earliest twenties when I still could barely choke down any plate of greens and plain out refused to eat them, cauliflower was one of the first veggies I started to eat consistently.
Weird, right? Weird, because it’s usually one that most people loathe due to it’s lovely scent and not so cute appearance. But here’s the thing: someone in the gym told me that if I roasted it? It would taste like POPCORN.
Yeah. Popcorn.
Okay, so they weren’t totally wrong. It does get sort of popcorn like, and I’ve found that if you roast it in coconut oil, the popcorny-ish flavor is even a bit stronger. Might just be me though.
After that chunk of time, the roasting of the cauliflower phase, I saw Giada lightly bread the white florets and… fry them. Yep yep. Fry them. In a lovely light batter. Eddie and I had just started dating then, so I would make broccoli and cauliflower that way. Like, um, every night. Lightly battered, fried and thrown on top of a salad or something.
It was SO good but then we were like… wait. We probably shouldn’t eat actual fried vegetables every single night. For dinner. I mean, if it was up to me I WOULD eat fried, like deep fried, veggies every night and even though it technically IS up to me, I’d prefer to not die prematurely so we decided to keep the fried things to a minimum. You know – like once per week.
Whoops.
Fast forward a few years when I realized that not only SHOULD I not continue to eat like a teenage boy, but that I couldn’t not eat vegetables without feeling like garbage (or, apparently a “garage” which is what I just typed instead because you know NO SLEEP EVER) and crud. And then I started to force myself to eat green veggies and the cauliflower sort of went by the wayside because I got all caught up in the whole kale!-brussels!-broccoli!-are-the-best-and-omg-if-you’re-not-eating-them-you’ll-die-and figured if I had to eat any, I may as well eat those and wah wah wah – there goes the cauli.
Especially because I can not do cauliflower raw. No can do.
Then people started making cauliflower steaks. “Steaks.” If there was ever any oxymoron in my mind, this is one.
Regardless, roasted still has always been the ONLY way I can enjoy it so the whole “steak” thing isn’t that way off for me. Back in the day – like the embarrassing day – I posted an old school crispy cauli with hot parmesan dip made with greek yogurt. Still LOVE that dip. The cauliflower just has to be all caramely and roasted and charred for me to get behind it…
And why not roast it in bacon grease? Seriously. WHY NOT. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. The grease that is.
Because it is freaking delicious. And then combined with pasta and the creamiest sauce? Gahhhhh.
Remember how my pregnancy was super boring without any fun and crazy cravings? Well one of the things I did really want was spaghetti carbonara but I got all up in my own head that I shouldn’t do it with the raw eggs, even if pasteurized. A few years ago when Eddie was traveling constantly, I made a version of pasta carbonara often because it was so super simple. All you have to do is wait for the pasta to cook and the bacon to fry and bam – comfort food that’s to die for.
While this version is a teensy more high maintenance since you have to wait for the cauliflower to roast, it’s totally worth it if you have the time. The cauliflower adds that slightly sweet and charred roasted flavor, increasing the flavor power of the entire dish and, frankly, adds a vegetable other than parsley to the skillet which means it… can… be… good for us!
I don’t know. It just makes Monday divine.
Charred Cauliflower Carbonara
Ingredients
- 12 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
- 1 large head cauliflower, chopped (or 2, if you really really love it)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 pound bucatini
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- salt + pepper for taste, if needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the chopped cauliflower on a baking sheet.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until totally crispy and the fat is rendered. Remove the bacon from the skillet with a slotted spoon, turn off the heat and keep the bacon fat in the pan. Take 2 to 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat and drizzle it on the cauliflower, tossing to coat. Sprinkle with the pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the cauliflower is charred and golden. While the cauliflower is roasting, boil the water for the bucatini and cook it.
- Whisk together the eggs and grated parmesan.
- Heat the skillet with the bacon fat over low heat. Add the garlic cloves and stir, cooking for a minute or so. Add the bucatini to the skillet and toss it well in the bacon fat. Remove the skillet from the heat. Pour in the egg/parmesan mixture and stir quickly and constantly to create a creamy sauce, tossing for 3 to 4 minutes or so. Toss in the cooked bacon and cauliflower. Top with the parsley and extra cheese. Taste and season additionally if you’d like. Serve immediately!
Did you make this recipe?
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117 Comments on “Charred Cauliflower Carbonara.”
Oh, what a perfect way to start the week! Looks scrumptious. I am totally with ya on cauliflower. Only way to eat it is roasted…or fried a la Giada (my hubs and I also ate that salad several times a week back in the day – one of the first things I cooked for him).
I haven’t had cauliflower in such a long time. Why is it that we get caught up in the greens?
Trying this carbonara without a doubt! It looks fantastic!
The roasting of cauliflower is crucial for me and so so worth it! I swear I could eat a whole head (is that what it’s called? sounds weird as I type it) of roasted cauliflower.
OMIGOSH Jess you and I are thinking the same cauliflower-y thoughts these days! I told my co-worker that it tasted like popcorn (but better) when roasted and charred and now he’s hooked. I love it so much that I would (and have) eaten a whole head of roasted cauliflower for dinner. Your recipe is a little more high maintenance as you said but I’m totally down for it!
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It took me ages to get roasting with cauliflower. I used to just use in curry or gratins to bulk them up however min was forever changed because of the oven. Jessica, your bacon fat, yolk yellow pasta has me drooling!
Carbonara is the best!!!! I forgot about cauliflower too! Poor nongreen veggies getting pushed to the wayside.
i cant even—- noodles, eggs, and cauliflower (i dont like bacon, dont hate me please)…pinned!!!
Isn’t bacon grease right next to cauliflower on the food pyramid anyway?? I’d say this is a completely legitimate way to get your 5 a day!
Gorge!! Seriously, I need a little charred cauli in my life!!
Mmmmm simple but delicious. This looks amazing Jessica!
Great minds! I made this same recipe for today but with charred brussels sprouts and used pancetta instead of bacon. And weirder, I couldn’t decide between the brussels and cauliflower as my veg addition. Next time, bacon and charred cauliflower are going in for the win.
I’ve told myself I’m gonna eat less pasta in the future (I have a wedding dress to fit into in 7 months), but I’ll have 2 bowls of this first, please. It looks incredible!
Ohhh yes! I can so get behind this! I’m also with you – no raw cauliflower, with one exception: I’ll dunk it in cheese fondue. But, I might eat my shoe dunked in cheese fondue so that probably doesn’t count. Should still be crisply roasted for even that situation.
I’m in! Cauliflower has bee my favorite veggie as long as I can remember! This looks killer amazing!
Yeah, I cannot get on board with cauliflower ‘steaks’ at all. I barely like vegetables, ever, and I loooove steak. Those two will never be synonymous in my mind! This is my kind of veggie meal!!! I love veggies only when made pretty unhealthy, or roasted!
I don’t want to say it three times fast… I want to eat three plates of it, fast. :-)
i didn’t think carbonara could get any better….then THIS!!!!! gah. must make!!!
The only way I can do cauliflower is with roasting. This looks fabulous!
Isn’t Giada wonderful! Oh she has inspired so many of my meals over the years! I love roasted cauliflower, it’s really the best!!
I wish I could reach in and grab a bowl for dinner. This looks so yummy!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
At the college I went to, we had a Mongolian grill setup where we could fill our bowls with meat then have them top it off with noodles. Of course, everyone would fill the bowl with meat THEN have them pile on the noodles.
Well that quickly changed to THEM portioning out the meat.
Your last picture of the full bowl reminded me of that :)
Okay, this pasta looks amazing! I’m a huge fan of cauliflower, and seriously must give this recipe a try. <3 :D
Oh my gosh! I am in love with this meal! Authentic carbonara is so unbelievably delicious, and the cauliflower addition is perfect for winter! :) AND, bucatini is THE best!
As a mom topping pasta with random veggies is a fairly common game. Yes you can have pasta, and cheese, as long as you eat it with tomatoes, basil, broccoli, peas, lima beans, etc…But cauliflower, in bacon grease, has yet to happen… but it must now. Looks delish, as always, thank you for sharing this!
xoxo
Katie
Haven’t made carbonara in much a long time! Gotta try this version :)
I’ve always loved cauliflowers, but I recently discovered roasted cauliflower and I’m addicted to it though I know many people still cringe at the thought of cauliflower no matter what it’s form. This charred cauliflower carbonara looks so amazingly delicious, and seriously, anything with bacon has to be good. I soo cannot wait to give this dish a try!
Grilled. Roasted. Charred. Braised. I love cauliflower! I can’t wait to make this. It’s gotta be healthier because of the cauli, right?
I don’t eat bacon, but I just laughed my butt off at “if you’ve got it, flaunt it.” HAHAHAH <3
Everything tastes better when bacon, or bacon grease for that matter, is involved. Having said that, this carbonara recipe looks divine.
This is a dish that I guarantee my family would love. I don’t eat bacon, but it would be a nice treat for my boyfriend and my mom! That cauliflower looks to die for. :)
Oh yes. Looks amazing, Jessica. I also think the little crispy leaves that fall of off brussels sprouts when you roast them taste like popcorn too!
What kind of bacon do you buy and from where? IT LOOKS SOOOO GOOD.
i buy my local store’s brand – it’s market district smokehouse bacon!
Quick question. When you put the pasta in the bacon grease, is that ALL of what’s leftover after you take out the 2-3 tablespoons for the cauliflower? So, you use up ALL of the bacon grease?
I usually do! you want the pasta to be coated nicely so it doesn’t stick together – BUT it also does depend on your bacon, so if you feel like you have an outrageous amount of grease in the skillet, remove some and save it for something else, like scrambled eggs. :)
OMG I am soooooo making this!! AMAZING I NEEED THIS IN MY LIFE NOW!
Sort of a strange question, but I’ve always avoided carbonaras because I cannot stand the taste of eggs (scrambleds, quiches, frittatas, even undercooked french toast, etc. all make me gag). However, I’ve never actually asked anyone if you can taste the eggs in this dish. So, now I am. What do you think?
This just looks divine!
Always loved cauliflower…and carbonara. I think this bulks it up a bit, lowers the carbs and makes it just a tad healthier? And I don’t even count roasting the cauliflower as an extra step because I would be making a veg anyway to go with the pasta. So two birds, done and done. Yum!
This looks amazing!!!
http://www.thecaliforeigner.com
soooooooo thats a no to giving up cheese for lent then eh? <3 :)
How have I never tried roasting cauliflower?? You have kind of convinced me to try it out… Also, this looks AMAZING!!
I made this for dinner tonight – it’s so good that I’m glad I live alone and don’t have to share the leftovers. :)
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Another amazing recipe that I cannot wait to try out! thanks!
http://www.nicolabhamra.com
I love carbonara and I love roasted cauliflower so this is a must try fo sho! Thanks for the great recipe..and I adore your book=)
I have a head of cauliflower in my fridge that I had every intention of turning into salad – but then I see this post right before dinner prep begins, and I already have all the ingredients. You’ve convinced me, this is definitely happening instead. Thanks for making tonight’s dinner more awesome!
I’m not usually into cauliflower… but this one is changing my mind! You had me at bacon grease!
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This is perfection on a plate, and roasted cauliflower is always a winner.
If you’re a cheese-fan, please consider roasting a whole head of cauliflower, brushed with oil and black pepper, then just before serving cover in thick cheese sauce, cream cheese and/or grated cheese. It’s like…whole cauliflower cheese. I love it.