Cheesy Baked Penne With Cauliflower And Crème Fraîche

Serves: 6

Llewellyn Gorczany

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

47

Spice

53

Sweetness

53

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

Directions:

1

Cook cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes

2

Using large sieve, transfer cauliflower to bowl

3

Add tomatoes to pot; cook 1 minute

4

Remove from water; peel and dice tomatoes

5

Reserve pot of water

6

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat

7

Add cauliflower; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes

8

Add tomatoes and green onions

9

Cook 1 minute to blend flavors

10

Remove from heat

11

Season with coarse salt and pepper

12

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat

13

Add flour and stir 2 minutes

14

Gradually whisk in cream

15

Cook until sauce thickens, whisking occasionally, about 4 minutes

16

Add 2 cups Comté cheese; whisk until melted and sauce is smooth

17

Whisk in 1/2 cup Parmesan, then crème fraîche and mustard

18

Season with salt and pepper

19

Remove from heat

20

Return reserved pot of water to boil

21

Add pasta and cook until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally

22

Drain; return pasta to same pot

23

Stir in cauliflower mixture and sauce

24

Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish

25

Spoon in half of pasta mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 cup Comté cheese

26

Top with remaining pasta mixture and 1/2 cup Comté cheese

27

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in small skillet

28

Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat

29

Remove from heat; mix in 1/4 cup Parmesan

30

Sprinkle crumbs over pasta

31

DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead

32

Let stand at room temperature

33

Preheat oven to 350°F

34

Bake pasta uncovered until heated through and bubbling, about 35 minutes

35

*Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores

36

Cook cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes

37

Using large sieve, transfer cauliflower to bowl

38

Add tomatoes to pot; cook 1 minute

39

Remove from water; peel and dice tomatoes

40

Reserve pot of water

41

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat

42

Add cauliflower; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes

43

Add tomatoes and green onions

44

Cook 1 minute to blend flavors

45

Remove from heat

46

Season with coarse salt and pepper

47

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat

48

Add flour and stir 2 minutes

49

Gradually whisk in cream

50

Cook until sauce thickens, whisking occasionally, about 4 minutes

51

Add 2 cups Comté cheese; whisk until melted and sauce is smooth

52

Whisk in 1/2 cup Parmesan, then crème fraîche and mustard

53

Season with salt and pepper

54

Remove from heat

55

Return reserved pot of water to boil

56

Add pasta and cook until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally

57

Drain; return pasta to same pot

58

Stir in cauliflower mixture and sauce

59

Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish

60

Spoon in half of pasta mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 cup Comté cheese

61

Top with remaining pasta mixture and 1/2 cup Comté cheese

62

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in small skillet

63

Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat

64

Remove from heat; mix in 1/4 cup Parmesan

65

Sprinkle crumbs over pasta

66

DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead

67

Let stand at room temperature

68

Preheat oven to 350°F

69

Bake pasta uncovered until heated through and bubbling, about 35 minutes

70

*Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores