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Friday 14 December 2018

Cheesy Cauliflower alla Vodka Casserole : Low Carb : Vegetarian


Yes please … I'd love some of this low carb cauliflower casserole recipe. This low carb penne alla vodka casserole recipe uses cauliflower to stand in for the pasta and is a surprisingly good substitute – just as hearty and satisfying as the real thing. Use 'loads' of Parmesan cheese because it makes it extra delicious and preferably a good quality cheese for the best flavour.

An important note is to make sure your cauliflower is very well drained before adding it to the casserole or you’ll end up with a bland, watery sauce. so be sure to dry out your cauliflower as much as possible before mixing it with the sauce.

This is the perfect low carb vegetarian main meal or side dish, but you could also add cooked chicken or shrimp to this recipe to make it even more hearty and turn it into a delicious one pot meal the whole family will love. 


Ingredients: 
Yield: 8 generous 1 cup servings
8 cups cooked cauliflower florets, well drained
2 cups vodka sauce (see below)
2 Tbsp. heavy (double) whipping cream
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
6 slices Provolone (or mozzarella) cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Instructions:
1. Combine the cauliflower, vodka sauce, heavy (double) whipping cream, butter, Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large bowl and toss to coat well.
2. Transfer into a 9 x 13 baking dish (or equivalent) and top with slices of Provolone (or mozzarella) cheese.
3. Bake in a preheated 375 degree (F) oven for 30 – 40 minutes or until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is completely melted.
4. Remove from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes.

5. Top with chopped fresh basil and serve.

Notes:
Nutrition info per serving:

14g fat, 6g net carbs, 12g protein
If you don't like alcohol, a simple tomato sauce works in place of vodka sauce.

Original recipe details/more information can be seen here

If you need help with weight/measurement conversion please see here

Vodka sauce is an American cuisine sauce made from a smooth tomato sauce, vodka, typical Italian herbs and heavy (double) cream, which gives the sauce its distinctive orange coloration. It gained popularity in the 1970s, when a variation won a national recipe contest in Italy, although it may well have been a sauce before its popularization in the 1970s. It is a key ingredient in penne alla vodka.

The vodka's function is, ostensibly, to release flavours in the tomato that are normally inaccessible; using alcoholic beverages for this purpose is common in Italian cooking, although usually accomplished with wine. It is also an emulsifier, serving to keep the sauce stable, when normally the oil of the cream sauce would react with the acidic tomato sauce to separate from the water in both.


If choosing a shop bought vodka sauce, buy the lowest carb variety available.




The cauliflower is one of the most versatile foods in the low carbers recipe book. From cauliflower cheese to finely grated as a rice substitute or mash with butter and use as a topping for shepherds and fish pies etc. With minimal carb content and over three times the vitamin C as potatoes, a truly great food. 

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog. It is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

26 comments:

Christine said...

This looks amazing!

Jo said...

I've never heard of vodka sauce before, I really want to try it. Perhaps I'll give this recipe a go.

Tom said...

...I'm not sure about this one.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Cauliflower and vodka! Those are 2 ingredients I would never imagine in one recipe! But it's interesting that the vodka brings out good flavors! Worth a try! Holiday hugs!

Forsythia said...

Sounds delicious. Can't use commercial vodka sauce because husband must avoid salt. I'm sure I can find a recipe for homemade vodka sauce on line, which I can tweak to omit the salt.

R's Rue said...

Love.

Chris Lally said...

Yum!
Thanks, Jan!

DIMI said...

ΗElla Jan!
Wow! Sounds delicious! Love Cauliflower!!
I have to try the Vodka sauce. Thank you for sharing both recipes!
Have a lovely weekend!
Dimi...

Miss Val's Creations said...

Oh this sounds good! We never cook with vodka sauce. I will have to buy some and give it a try!

Anonymous said...

I may give this a try it looks and sounds delicious.

Tina

JFM said...

Sure looks tasty!

Hugs~

Valerie-Jael said...

Sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing, Valerie

Elephant's Child said...

It does sound good. Something to remember when our weather cools down again.

William Kendall said...

Vodka sauce is a new one to me.

Susan Kane said...

I think my diabetic husband would like this.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

I've never heard of vodka in food. Whatever next? They'll be putting wine in food I suppose !!! ???

God bless.

Bill said...

I never hear of vodka sauce but I do love cauliflower.

Betsy said...

Oh my gosh this looks so good! This one is a must to try.

Margaret D said...

Never heard of vodka sauce but I bet it's nice.

Gloria Baker said...

Love cauliflower!! (today we made quinoa burgers, so good)
Have a nice weekend!

Martha said...

Wow, what a great dish!

Tanza Erlambang - Every Day Issues said...

I love Cauliflower... I use as vegetable for chicken soup.
thank you for recipe.
have a great day

Marco Luijken said...

Hello jan,
That's looking very well. Delicious!!

Greetings, Marco

Amy Purdy said...

I would like to try this.

carol l mckenna said...

Heavenly vegetable recipe! ^_^

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)








Magic Love Crow said...

So good! Thanks so much for this recipe! Big Hugs!