Cauliflower and Pasta Bake

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Bake Time: 35 minutes

Serves: 6

Josh Rating: Loves it

14 oz penne pasta
1 cauliflower head
2 Tbs olive oil
2 onions (red or yellow), chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 oz (80 g) butter
4 Tbs flour
4 cups milk
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup firmly packed shredded fresh basil
5 slices day old bread, crusts removed
2 oz (60 g) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350. Boil pasta and drain. Steam cauliflower until just tender. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook onion and garlic until soft. Combine in a bowl with the cauliflower and pasta.

Melt the butter in a medium pan and mix in the flour. Slowly whisk in milk. Stir constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and stir through 1 ¼ cups of the Parmesan cheese and the basil. Combine with cauliflower and pasta. Pour cauliflower mix in a 9 x 13 inch dish.

Cut the bread into large cubes. Toss the cubes in melted butter then scatter them over the cauliflower mixture. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 35 minutes until the top is golden.

Recipe from: The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook (Murdock Books, 1996)