Preheat oven to 220°C. Lightly oil a baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add cauliflower, garlic, and onion. Season with salt. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, for 15 to 20 minutes. Add 4 cups water and simmer until vegetables are very soft, for 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 2 cups cooking liquid; let cool slightly.

Combine vegetables, Cheddar, Parmesan, mustard powder, and cayenne in a blender (depending on the size of your blender, you may need to do this in two batches). Purée, adding just enough reserved cooking liquid to get mixture moving, until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the sauce to pasta and toss to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Toss together panko, parsley, and remaining tablespoon oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle over pasta. Bake until golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes.