Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce

In this one-pot-plus-blender recipe, mild cauliflower pairs with pasta and rich Italian cheese. The cauliflower, cut into florets and simmered in the water that’s later used to cook the pasta, plays a dual role. Some is tossed with the noodles, bringing a contrasting texture to the mix. We also blend cauliflower with some of its cooking water and oil to create a velvety sauce base without adding dairy or starch. The result is a delicious, easy—and light—take on macaroni and cheese. A short, twisty pasta that the sauce easily grips is best; we like campanelle, cavatappi and fusilli.