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    Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower

    May 10, 2021 By Rene 3 Comments

    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta!

    Jump to Recipe
    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta

    Pesto pasta is a must when the weather gets warm! And nothing makes a bowl of pasta better than crispy cauliflower. Trust me! Of course it adds veggies, BUT it also adds seasoning, crunch and so much flavor. This pasta comes together super quickly and uses all homemade ingredients. You're going to love it!

    How to make Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower

    Start by roasting the cauliflower. Cut it into florets, drizzle it with a good amount of olive oil (that's what will make it extra crispy and delicious) and add seasoning. Give everything a good toss and put it in the oven.

    Next, make the pesto. Homemade pesto is super easy and just requires a few ingredients. You could always go the pre-made route for an even quicker dinner, but I like to make it fresh when possible. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until you have a creamy pesto sauce.

    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta
    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta

    To bring it all together, cook the pasta and drain. Place the empty pot back on the stove and combine the pasta, pesto, some non-dairy cream and a splash of pasta water. Give everything a good mix and add more salt & pepper as needed.

    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta

    How to serve Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower

    Once everything is done, plate your pasta with a heaping scoop of crispy cauliflower, plenty of fresh basil and some more black pepper. Seriously, so delicious.

    Leftovers may dry out slightly, so feel free to add another splash of non-dairy cream when reheating. You can also reheat the cauliflower in the oven or an air fryer.

    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta

    Need more recipe inspo? Check these out:

    • Creamy Vegan Rigatoni with Roasted Cauliflower
    • Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Orzo Mac and Cheese
    • Healthy Cauliflower Taco Bowls
    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta
    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade argula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta
    Print Pin
    5 from 5 votes

    Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower

    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Keyword arugula, basil, cauliflower, pasta, pesto, quick dinner
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 619kcal

    Ingredients

    FOR THE CAULIFLOWER

    • 1 head cauliflower cut in florets
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • salt & pepper to taste

    FOR THE PESTO

    • ½ cup walnuts unsalted
    • 2 cloves garlic peeled
    • salt & pepper to taste
    • 1 cup basil
    • 1 cup arugula
    • 1 lemon juiced, to taste
    • ¼ cup olive oil

    FOR THE PASTA

    • 8 oz bucatini dry
    • ¼ cup non-dairy creamer* unsweetened
    • basil

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Add all of the cauliflower ingredients to the baking sheet and toss to coat evenly. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway.
    • Meanwhile, add the walnuts, garlic and a pinch of salt & pepper to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the basil, arugula and lemon juice. Run the food processor and slowly poor in the olive oil. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
    • Place the empty pot back on the stove and add the drained pasta and pesto. Add the creamer and toss to combine. Add pasta water as needed to thin. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
    • Serve pasta with the crispy cauliflower, fresh basil and more pepper.

    Video

    Notes

    *I get this in the coffee creamer section at the store. You can also sub for non-dairy milk.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 619kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 761mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Iron: 3mg

    This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Please know I would never link a product unless I have personally used it and loved it!

    This Vegan Pesto Bucatini with Crispy Cauliflower is a quick and easy vegan dinner! Homemade arugula-basil pesto & seasoned baked cauliflower over a bed of pasta | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #veganpesto #veganpasta
    « Weekly Vegan Dinner Plan #143
    Vegan Gnocchi Potato Salad »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie Morrison

      July 11, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE what you do with cauliflower! And anything with pesto…

      Reply
    2. Jenny

      May 24, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this dish! It was easy and tasted so fresh. I used spaghetti noodles and almond milk because it was that I had on hand and it turned out great. The crispy cauliflower is a great addition to pasta.

      Reply
      • Rene

        May 29, 2021 at 10:51 am

        Hi Jenny - So glad you liked it!!!

        Reply

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    Hey, nice to meet you!

    I’m Rene! So-cal native, dog mom and lover of all things spicy. Learn more.

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