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Creamy Cauliflower Sauce in a glass jar garnished with fresh herbs and spices on a marble surface.
Maryam

Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

A silky, velvety sauce that tastes like alfredo but sneaks in a whole head of vegetables.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Calories: 185

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce
  • 1 medium head cauliflower about 2 lbs, cut into florets
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • 2.5 cups vegetable broth low-sodium
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 0.25 cup heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, plus more for serving
  • 0.75 tsp salt plus more to taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg freshly grated
  • 1 tsp lemon juice freshly squeezed

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • High-Speed Blender or Food Processor
  • Chef's Knife
  • Cutting board

Method
 

Cook the Cauliflower
  1. Combine cauliflower florets, smashed garlic, and vegetable broth in a large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the cauliflower is completely tender and easily pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. The cauliflower should almost fall apart when poked.
  2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked cauliflower and garlic to a high-speed blender. Add 1 cup of the cooking liquid, the butter, heavy cream, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Blend on high until completely smooth and silky, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. If the sauce is too thick, add more cooking liquid a few tablespoons at a time.
  3. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed. Add the lemon juice and pulse once more to combine. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon and taste rich and slightly nutty from the Parmesan.
  4. Serve immediately over pasta, roasted vegetables, or grilled chicken. Top with additional grated Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper.

Notes

For a vegan version, swap the butter for olive oil, use cashew cream instead of heavy cream, and substitute nutritional yeast for the Parmesan. The sauce thickens considerably as it cools - thin with reserved pasta water or warm broth when reheating. Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 4 days; the flavor actually improves overnight.