Food Recipes Pasta With Bacon and Caramelized Cauliflower 4.5 (2) 2 Reviews This quick pasta is packed with rich flavor. By Marianne Williams Marianne Williams Marianne has been writing and testing recipes in the test kitchens for Dotdash Meredith since 2016. She studied at the International Culinary Center, in New York, and the International School of Italian Cuisine, in Italy, under highly esteemed chefs and graduated in 2015. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 29, 2021 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Greg DuPree Hands On Time: 30 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 4 Jump to Nutrition Facts Thick-cut bacon is the flavorful backbone of this pasta that comes together in less than 30 minutes. The chopped bacon is cooked in a skillet until nice and crispy. Then cauliflower florets cook in the bacon drippings until they're deeply browned and flavorful. Just like magic, a few ingredients create a satisfying supper. Pro tip: always ladle out some of the cooking water before draining the pasta. The starches released from the pasta into the water help to create a light and smooth sauce when paired with butter and grated cheese. And remember to always salt the water before cooking the pasta. Ingredients 6 ounces thick-cut bacon (about 5 slices), chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 cups cauliflower florets (13 oz.), cut into small pieces .50 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for water 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic (from 3 cloves) 12 ounces casarecce or penne pasta 2 tablespoons (¼ stick) cold unsalted butter 2 ounces pecorino Romano cheese, grated (about ½ cup), divided 6 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided Directions Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a towel-lined plate. Discard all but 1 tablespoon drippings from skillet. Add oil to same skillet; heat over medium-high. Add cauliflower and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic to skillet during final 2 minutes of cook time. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup cooking water. Add pasta to cauliflower mixture in skillet. Reserve ¼ cup bacon; add remaining bacon to skillet. Cook over medium, stirring often, for 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in butter, reserved cooking water, and ¼ cup each cheese and parsley. Serve topped with reserved bacon and remaining ¼ cup cheese and 2 tablespoons parsley. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 666 Calories 29g Fat 72g Carbs 30g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 666 % Daily Value * Total Fat 29g 37% Saturated Fat 13g 65% Cholesterol 74mg 25% Total Carbohydrate 72g 26% Dietary Fiber 4g 14% Total Sugars 4g Protein 30g *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.