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Cauliflower Scampi in Lemon Garlic White Wine Sauce needs only a handful of ingredients and is ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s a weeknight winner!
My last cauliflower recipe – my Roasted Cauliflower Salad w/ Lentils & Grapes – was back in March, so you know I was due for another one. You guys continue to love on my Crispy Baked Cauliflower Tacos and my Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, so I can only assume you love this white veggie as much as I do.
Today I’m bringing you this quick and easy pasta recipe with roasted cauliflower, lots of lemon, and a garlic white wine sauce. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for a weeknight. But it’s also classy enough for entertaining!
Scampi is a type of lobster, or more accurately, the meaty tail of a certain type of lobster. Here in the U.S. though, it generally refers to a dish made with shrimp in a sauce consisting of garlic, butter, and wine. Sometimes, breadcrumbs or Parmesan cheese are added as well. You can’t really go wrong with lots of garlic, lemon and wine, right?
Of course, we’re making this scampi without shrimp or lobster. Instead, I roasted cauliflower with olive oil and lemon juice until tender. It’s SO GOOD that it almost didn’t make it to the pasta…I was eating it straight from the pan! So, take note, that this roasted cauliflower by itself would make a great side dish for any other meal you’re planning too.
Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable and, although it is white in color, has many of the same health benefits that you find in the cruciferous green super food veggies like broccoli and kale. It contains many antioxidants, as well as being high in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, K, B’s, folate, fiber, potassium, healthy omega-3 fats, and even protein.
Growing up we ate a lot of cauliflower. Back then I liked it best steamed, tossed in butter and breadcrumbs, and drizzled with malt vinegar. I know that might sound weird, but trust me, it was fabulous!
Since I love cauliflower and breadcrumbs together so much, and because breadcrumbs and parmesan are sometimes used in scampi dishes, I added my own little version of this here. I blitzed hulled pumpkin seeds (which have a great cheesy like flavor that I LOVE in pesto) with nutritional yeast (also providing a cheesy flavor) in a coffee grinder.
Sprinkled over the top of this Cauliflower Scampi in Lemon Garlic White Wine Sauce, it provides a similar texture and flavor all without dairy or carbs. (Not that I’m afraid of carbs – clearly I’m not – this is a pasta dish after all…just pointing out you can have that breadcrumb texture without bread when you desire.)
The sauce makes just enough so the noodles are coated, but not swimming in it. The perfect amount if you ask me. Light enough for a quick summer meal, but filling enough to be winter comfort food. Delicious all year round!
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment below with your feedback.
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For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Cauliflower Scampi in Lemon Garlic White Wine Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower (chopped into bite size florets)
- ½ tsp Himalayan pink salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup dry white wine
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- handful fresh parsley (chopped)
- pinch red pepper flakes
- ½ lb linguine* (cooked according to package directions) (or pasta of choice – spaghetti or even zoodles would work)
Vegan Parmesan garnish, optional
- 2 tbsp pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Toss the cauliflower florets in 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice and ½ tsp salt. Spread onto the prepared baking sheet in one even layer and bake for 15 minutes. Shake the pan to toss the cauliflower around, let it settle back into an even layer, and bake another 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the linguine according to package directions.
- While the pasta and cauliflower are cooking, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat in a large pan on the stove. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add the white wine and simmer 3-4 minutes until the liquid reduces a bit.
- Add the lemon juice and broth and simmer 5 minutes.
- When the cauliflower is done, toss it into the white wine sauce. Add the cooked pasta and toss to combine. Add the fresh chopped parsley and red pepper flakes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add a little more lemon juice or salt if needed.
- In a coffee grinder or small food processor, grind the pepitas with the nutritional yeast into a course powder.
- Sprinkle the pepita mixture, if using, over the cauliflower and linguine and serve immediately.
Sarah says
What a clever idea! I love this.
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Sarah!
Laura says
We love cozy comforting pasta dishes! I love that this one is still light and flavorful! YUM!
Jenn S. says
Yes, we do too. Everyone loves pasta! Thanks, Laura!
Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. says
I am so excited to try this recipe! Shrimp scampi has always been a favorite Italian dish of mine but a vegan version sounds even better. Bookmarked for next week!
Jenn S. says
Yay! Thank you, Whitney! I hope you love it!
Tracy says
I’m a little confused- in the blog post you said you roasted the cauliflower in lemon juice & olive oil. But in the directions you only roast in salt & pepper. Am I missing something?
Jenn S. says
Oh my gosh – thank you for pointing that out! I forget to add the lemon juice to that part of the recipe.
Emily Kyle says
This is a genius ideas as a plant-based alternative to shrimp scampi! II love a good white wine sauce, and I bet my husband would like this! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Emily! It was a big hit with my hubby!
Christine - Jar Of Lemons says
Looks SO good! And love the cauliflower variation. Must try this very soon!
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Christine! I hope you enjoy it!
Ashley | Fit Mitten Kitchen says
Oh love this idea!! I am always a big fan of cauliflower… except when you cut it up and it gets everywhere – that I do not like 😀
Jenn S. says
HaHa! That’s true, it can be a bit of a crumbly mess when chopping. I try to use an oversized cutting board so it’s not all over my counter too. But even then the little bits still roll around. LOL!
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
You have turned a delicious dish into an amazing dish! I love that you used cauliflower in there!
Jenn S. says
Thank you so much, Kristina! Cauliflower is the best!
Taylor Kiser says
Love that you used cauliflower in this! Looks so delicious! My kind of easy weeknight meal!
Jenn S. says
Super easy! Thanks, Taylor!
Jessica @ Small Bites by Jessica says
Such a great idea to add cauliflower! What a perfect dinner idea!
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Jessica!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
I adore roasted cauliflower. And who doesn’t love pasta?! Put them together and you have one amazing dish!
Jenn S. says
Totally agree, Sonali! Thanks!
Sarah De la Cruz says
Jenn—this looks amazing! I love cauliflower too, and I can’t wait to try this! I am all about the pasta!!! And I love that it’s nut free!!! Woo hoo!
Jenn S. says
Thank you so much, Sarah! My hubby loved it too and ate all of the leftovers! And he’s not always the most excited about my plant based dishes. LOL! I really hope you love it!
Trinity Bourne says
Ha ha – can just imagine the cauliflower almost didn’t make it into the pasta. Sounds totally delicious.
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Trinity!
Jenn S. says
I can’t get enough cauliflower! Thanks, Lorie!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
Looks really delicious, Jenn! I love pasta dishes like this with lots of garlic!
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Amy! It was delicious for sure!