Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
- 1 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 13 ounces whole wheat elbow macaroni or other short pasta. I like using Banza pasta.
- 1 cup (or 4oz) extra-sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
- 1/3 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1/4 cup), divided
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs or crumbled Ritz crackers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté just beginning to soften; about 3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook onions until caramelized and tender, stirring occasionally. Let the onions cook for at least 10 additional minutes, or up to 30 minutes as you prepare the rest of the recipe.
- In a deep, wide saucepan, combine pumpkin, stock, and milk, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce thickens slightly; about 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat, then stir in mustard, salt, pepper nutmeg, and cayenne.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and 1 tablespoon kosher salt, then cook just until al dente according to package instructions. Drain, then transfer noodles to a large bowl. Pour pumpkin sauce over the top, then stir in the cheddar, Greek yogurt, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
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Fold in all of the caramelized onions and cauliflower.
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Lightly coat a 9-inch square, deep baking dish or a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Transfer the pumpkin noodle mixture to the dish. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs or Ritz crumbs, the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the noodles.
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Cover dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until lightly browned and crisp on top; 30 to 35 minutes more. Serve immediately.