Cauliflower alla Vodka

Cauliflower alla Vodka is so satisfying and rich you won’t miss the pasta. Antioxidant-rich cauliflower and onions are sautéed until perfectly tender—making them the perfect consistency to grab onto and absorb the creamy vodka sauce. This plant-based dish is finished with a sprinkling of melty calcium-packed mozzarella cheese and fresh basil for brightness. Keep reading for our expert tips including how to get the most tender cauliflower and ingredients you could add to boost the nutrition even more in this dish. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• You can use microwaved or blanched cauliflower if you prefer, just add the cauliflower after the onions have softened. Reduce the simmering time as needed so the cauliflower doesn’t get mushy.
• It’s important to stir the cauliflower mixture while it simmers to prevent the florets from getting stuck and burning on the bottom of the pan.
• For added nutrients, stir in some spinach about 2 minutes before the cauliflower and sauce are done in Step 3. The aim is to wilt the spinach without overcooking it.
• If you have extra time, rub some garlic over the toasted baguette slices, top them with additional mozzarella and broil until melted. Or skip the bread entirely and serve Cauliflower alla Vodka over pasta.

Nutrition Notes

• Cauliflower seems to defy the rules of eating the rainbow, but make no mistake, this white vegetable is packed with nutrients. It is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it has nutrients that help protect against cancer. It also has potassium and fiber, two nutrients that are essential for heart health. 
• Onions have a strong smell for a reason, they are packed with sulfur-containing compounds that help fight inflammation and chronic disease, and these special nutrients may play a role in cancer prevention. 
• You’ll make your own vodka sauce using this recipe with a little help from a can of tomato sauce. We chose a low-sodium version to help control the amount of salt—too much sodium in your diet can elevate your blood pressure, so choosing a lower-sodium option is always the best choice to keep your heart healthy. 
• Mozzarella cheese comes in many varieties, but we chose part-skim, low-moisture mozzarella to reduce the amount of saturated fat in this dish and increase the calcium—great for your heart and bone health.