300gpappardelleor any long noodle pasta of your choice
1medium head of cauliflowercut into florets (about 580 - 650g)
500mlmilkI used skim
1 - 2garlic clovesthinly sliced (optional)
2bay leaves
pinchof nutmeg
pinchof dried chilli flakesoptional
30gblue cheeseor however much you like
1/4cupof guancialethinly sliced (about 1 cheek)
salt and white pepper
Instructions
Bring the milk to a boil in a medium pot and add the garlic, nutmeg, bay leaves and cauliflower. Cook until the cauliflower is soft - about 20 - 35 minutes. You really want to almost 'overcook' it.
While the cauliflower is cooking, cook your pasta until it's al dente and fry your bacon/guanciale. Melt some of the fatty bits of the bacon and then fry the bacon bits until crispy. Drain and set aside.
When done, remove the bay leaves and process with a hand blender until it is smooth and creamy. I found these ratios delivered the perfect thickness of the sauce, but you could add more or less of the cooking liquid to thin down or thicken your sauce. Put the pureed sauce back on the heat and crumble in the blue cheese, allowing this to melt in. Adjust the seasoning according to your taste.
Toss the sauce through the pasta and mix in the crispy bacon.
Notes
Tha sauce can be made in advance and reheated before adding the freshly cooked pasta