menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Events
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes

    Linguine with Cauliflower Pesto

    Ashley Covelli standing in the kitchen wearing an apron with the Big Flavors logo.
    Modified: Feb 4, 2021 · Published: Feb 9, 2015 by Ashley · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment
    • Facebook
    • Email
    • Flip
    • Threads
    • Bluesky

    This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

    Reserved pasta water "cooks" the sauce in this delicious vegetarian pasta dish.

    The food processor does most of the work for this dish. You pulse ingredients and then mix them together with piping hot linguine, adding pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency.

    Linguine with Cauliflower Pesto

    It takes a little bit of time to toast the nuts and get everything pulsed and mixed together, but you can do most of it while the pasta water comes up to a boil.

    I really enjoyed the richness that the sun-dried tomatoes and capers added to this dish. I used Pecorino Romano cheese and it worked out great! Next time, I'd probably pulse the cauliflower a little bit finer, but the taste was great, and my Italian husband really enjoyed it, too.

    Salt
    1 small head or ½ large head cauliflower (about 1 pound or 455 grams), trimmed of leaves, cored and cut into large chunks
    1 garlic clove
    Generous pinch of red pepper flakes
    ½ cup (70 grams) almonds or pine nuts, toasted and cooled
    2-ounce (55-gram) chunk Romano or Parmesan cheese, plus a little more for passing
    4 sun-dried tomatoes (dry variety; if oil- packed, be sure to mince them by hand separately, so the oil doesn't gum up the food processor mixture, before you add them)
    1 tablespoon drained capers
    Few tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
    ⅓ cup (80ml) olive oil
    ½ to 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar (to taste)
    1 pound (455 grams) linguine

    See The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook for the full recipe.

    More Main Dish Recipes

    • Sheet pan of cooked chicken fajita mixture.
      Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
    • Bowl of sautéed shrimp with pickled onions, cilantro rice, guacamole, tomatoes, and sour cream.
      Shrimp Burrito Bowls
    • Chicken and bell pepper stir-fry served over white rice.
      Chicken and Bell Pepper Stir-Fry
    • Chicken and veggies simmering in a saucepan.
      Chicken a la King

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Hi, I'm Ashley and I’ve been writing about food & recipes here at Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen since 2006. I want to help you (yes, you!) gain confidence in the kitchen so you are excited to cook at home for yourself and your loved ones.

    More about me →

    Favorite Fall Recipes

    • Grandpa Henderson's Beef Stew
    • Maple Cookies
    • Curried Pumpkin Soup
    • Instant Pot Herbed Pot Roast
    • Roasted Honeynut Squash with Burrata, Pomegranate, + Pepitas

    All Things Thanksgiving

    • Thanksgiving Central: Recipes, Tips, + More for Your Holiday Table
    • Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
    • Dry Brine Seasoning Blend for Turkey
    • Spatchcocked Roasted Turkey
    • Our Favorite Turkey Gravy
    • Spiced Mulled Wine
    • Classic Dutch Apple Pie
    • Best Ever Green Bean Casserole
    • Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Bourbon
    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

    Popular Now

    • Two slices of rhubarb custard pie on plates with forks.
      Rhubarb Custard Pie
    • Cast iron skillet full of chicken fajitas.
      Favorite Restaurant-Style Chicken Fajitas
    • Tray of cocktails made with watermelon, mint, lime, and tequila with a bottle of Tajin seasoning in the background.
      Watermelon Sugar High Tequila Cocktail
    • Close up of a few cucumber slices topped with a spiced chickpea purée.
      Falafel-Spiced Cucumber Bites
    • Overhead view of spinach and cheddar quiche with forks.
      Baby Spinach and Cheddar Quiche Made with Fresh Spinach
    • Small cutting board with sliced smoked salmon roll-ups on top.
      Smoked Salmon Roll-ups with Cream Cheese

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Ashley
    • Press + Recognition
    • Events
    • Virtual Cooking Classes
    • Podcast
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up to receive delicious recipes and exclusive content right to your inbox!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no added cost to you.

    ©2006–2025  BIG FLAVORS FROM A TINY KITCHEN LLC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    *Third-party advertisers may collect or use non-personally identifiable information to serve you more relevant ads.