I just signed up for the foodie blogroll forum and found out about the Royal Foodie Joust which is hosted by the Leftover Queen. Each month, a foodie who won the previous month's Royal Foodie Joust gets to choose 3 ingredients of his/her choice, and everyone will have to come up with a dish using these ingredients. A winner will be picked each month and gets to choose the next 3 ingredients for next month.
Since I just joined the forum, I thought I'll participate in this month's event. But I was dismayed when I saw one of the ingredients - cauliflower. I dislike cauliflower and can't even recall when was the last time I had it. The wild boar would use it for stir fries whenever I'm not cooking or eating as he knows I won't eat it. Anyhow, it's been years since I last had it so maybe my tastes have changed.
I added crispy bacon hoping that it would distract me from the cauliflower. And yes, it did its job and added lots of flavour to the dish. The only problem was the hint of bitterness from the cauliflower. The wild boar says it was because I did not get rid of the core...hmm I wonder...so here's my entry: A simple pasta meal - Cauliflower Linguine with Mushrooms and Crispy Bacon.
Since I just joined the forum, I thought I'll participate in this month's event. But I was dismayed when I saw one of the ingredients - cauliflower. I dislike cauliflower and can't even recall when was the last time I had it. The wild boar would use it for stir fries whenever I'm not cooking or eating as he knows I won't eat it. Anyhow, it's been years since I last had it so maybe my tastes have changed.
I added crispy bacon hoping that it would distract me from the cauliflower. And yes, it did its job and added lots of flavour to the dish. The only problem was the hint of bitterness from the cauliflower. The wild boar says it was because I did not get rid of the core...hmm I wonder...so here's my entry: A simple pasta meal - Cauliflower Linguine with Mushrooms and Crispy Bacon.
Ingredients: serves 4-5Directions:
- Linguine
- 250g Bacon - cut into small pieces
- 500g Mushrooms - sliced
- 1 head Cauliflower - coarsely chopped
- 500ml Stock (low sodium)
- 2 tbs Creme Fraiche
- 1 cup Mature Cheddar - grated
- 1 cup Walnuts - toasted and coarsely chopped
- Place bacon in a heated pan and fry until browned and crispy.
- Remove half of the bacon. This will be sprinkled on the pasta before serving.
- Add in mushrooms and leave to cook until mushrooms are softened.
- In another pan, heat up a bit of olive oil and butter.
- Toss in cauliflower, stir fry for about 10 mins.
- Pour in stock and bring to boil.
- Lower heat to simmer until cauliflower softened.
- Puree in a blender.
- Transfer to a pan, stir in creme fraiche.
- Slowly mix in cheese.
- Stir in mushrooms and bacon.
- In another pot, cook linguine as instructed on the package. Drain.
- Pour cauliflower sauce in and mix.
- Toss in walnuts.
- Top with some crispy bacon and serve!
35 oink oinks...:
This looks delicious, I love the idea of using cauliflower as a sauce! Have you ever tried roasted cauliflower? It is my favorite way to eat it, you might like it better that way.
Looks good! I like my cauliflower soft and cook with dried thyme. ;)
It's a great idea to use cauliflower as a sauce! I've forgotten about cauliflower and didn't cook with it for years until recently when I made my cauliflower velouete and then of course it was one of the ingredients for the Joust. It's now back in my refrigerator. I like it roasted also as Sara mentioned. My mother used to bread it and pan fry and that's good too.
Great entry! I love linguini, and bacon... Yum! I haven't even thought about what to make yet for the joust.
Beautiful shrooms!!!! Ah.. Linguine.. I had pasta yesterday as well with Mentai... this looks wonderful!
i love all the ingredients you used... it looks so yummy... :)
great first entry! looks delicious!!!
Saw this on Foodie Blogroll. I think it's a great entry. I particularly love that you added bacon and walnuts.
Delicious looking recipe. Love bacon in pasta.
u sure hve my vote dear!
I really should participate in the next joust...if I have time, I think I will!
I think your dish looks very appetizing!
This is a tasty sounding pasta!
Oink oink... this is absolutely delicious. I can smell those bacon all the way here.
Cheers,
Elra
Bacon makes everyhting better! Those ingredints stumped me, but you dis a great job. Looks delish.
Pass it over, I LOVE cauliflower ;) I looks great.
I could easily make this vegetarian...but I agree with glamah16 - bacon makes everything better!
I love cauliflower!! This is a really delicious dish-yummy flavors! You should win with this-great job!
Cauliflower with these ingredients sounds and looks wonderful!! I think you did an awesome job!
Oh, Pig pig, this looks so delicious, and it is making me soooo hungry! I swear I can smell it from here. I LOVE cauliflower. I'm heading out for a walk right now and will pick some up at the market. Guess what we're having for dinner tonight? :-) Also, love the idea of this contest. How fun, gotta get in on that.
what an incredible joust debut! i can't say that i've ever had cauliflower combined with pasta, but this dish sounds heavenly!
I am so not a fan of cauliflower but your powers of persuasion can not be ignored. This looks tremendous!
Your dish looks amazing, love the combination and bacon always wins with me! :P Where do we vote for you?
You made a great dish from something your not fond of, it looks great, kudos to you!
I am SOO impressed by how creative you are with your food. It's very very inspiring. :) Thank you!
Anything with bacon is great :)
If you want a few more ideas for good cauliflower recipes, let me know. I love mine roasted or you can make an Indian dish with cauliflower, peas and potatoes: yummy. My dad boils his and then gives it an egg wash and then drenches it in breadcrumbs and fries it up!
So many people dislike cauliflower, I however am a fan. I like to roast mine as I don't like the odor of from boiling or steaming. Have you ever made Faux mashed potatoes with cauliflower and butter and cream...yum.
This looks very good though and creative!
Real neat dish. I love cauliflower! used very often in indian cooking. very innovative. I have never participated in the joust...
Thank you all for you lovely comments! Lots of you seem to like roasted cauliflower! I might give them a try next time.
This combination had me scratching my head.
Everything is better with bacon, cauliflower included :)
Delicious recipe. I love your step-by-step photos. I am sure that the Umami factor is very high in this recipe, with the combination of fresh mushrooms and Cheddar cheese.
- Brittany
Jude:The combination had me scratching my head too! But it was so much better with bacon! The cauliflower...hmm....
Mushrooms Canada: Thanks for visiting! The mushrooms was a great addition!
I used to hate cauliflower too. Ugh. All nothing-tasting like that... But, we found a way that made EVERYBODY like them: by roasting them! Try it... those charred bits make them even better!
ts: I always find that they are quite bitter and have a weird aftertaste. I really have to try roasting them!
The bacon addition was a great choice. I also love roasting my cauliflower, using sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts. But bacon is always a tasty addition.
Angela: Everyone seem to like roasted cauliflower! Sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts sounds like a wonderful addition.
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