The delicious sauce in this Creamy Hidden-Veggie Pasta is the perfect way for me to hide cauliflower from my kids- a vegetable they would normally turn their noses up at. Although they love broccoli, they are not so fond of “broccoli’s yucky cousin”, as they call it.
Of course, my kids couldn’t care less that cauliflower is one of the world’s healthiest foods, as it is rich in:
- Vitamins C, K, B6, and folate
- Choline
- Fiber
- Omega-3 fatty acids
Studies also show that cauliflower prevents breast cancer in addition to pancreatic, colon, liver, lung, and stomach cancers.
So I must do what mothers do best- outwit my children. I only tell them *after the fact* that they just ate an entire head of cauliflower!
The bone broth and chicken also give this dish an additional nutritional boost. Try my recipe for Healing Bone Broth and read here about the amazing health benefits of bone broth.
You can also make this dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.
Creamy Hidden-Veggie Pasta
Ingredients
- 500 grams boneless chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 500 grams uncooked pasta gluten free, if desired
- 1 medium head cauliflower
- About 2 cups bone broth or water
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon natural salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cream
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the pasta according to directions on package. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Chop the cauliflower and steam it until very soft, about 7-10 minutes. I like to steam the cauliflower over the boiling pasta water, in order to save time (and dirty dishes!).
- While the pasta and cauliflower are cooking, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium skillet and cook the chicken over medium heat. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Melt the 2nd tablespoon of butter in the same skillet in which you cooked the chicken, over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft.
- Add the steamed cauliflower to a blender with the bone broth (or water), garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
- Add the cream and any additional water needed to get the consistency you want. The sauce will thicken up a bit when it cools down.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta, add the chicken, and stir well. Check for salt and add more if needed. Serve immediately. Enjoy!