Cheesy Baked Penne with Cauliflower and Crème Fraîche
A luxurious baked pasta dish combining tender cauliflower, fresh tomatoes, and three types of cheese in a creamy crème fraîche sauce, topped with crispy buttered breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
- •1 head cauliflower
- •2 large heirloom tomatoes
- •5 tablespoons butter
- •½ cup green onions
- •1 to taste coarse kosher salt
- •2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- •1 cup heavy whipping cream
- •3 cups Comté cheese
- •¾ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano
- •1 cup crème fraîche
- •1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon mustard
- •10 ounces penne
- •1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Cook cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Using large sieve, transfer cauliflower to bowl. Add tomatoes to pot; cook 1 minute. Remove from water; peel and dice tomatoes. Reserve pot of water.
7 min
- 2.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cauliflower; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and green onions. Cook 1 minute to blend flavors. Remove from heat. Season with coarse salt and pepper.
7 min
- 3.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in cream. Cook until sauce thickens, whisking occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add 2 cups Comté cheese; whisk until melted and sauce is smooth. Whisk in 1/2 cup Parmesan, then crème fraîche and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
8 min
- 4.
Return reserved pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain; return pasta to same pot. Stir in cauliflower mixture and sauce.
12 min
- 5.
Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon in half of pasta mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 cup Comté cheese. Top with remaining pasta mixture and 1/2 cup Comté cheese. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in small skillet. Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat. Remove from heat; mix in 1/4 cup Parmesan. Sprinkle crumbs over pasta. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
10 min
- 6.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pasta uncovered until heated through and bubbling, about 35 minutes.
35 min
- 7.
*Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.
