Cauliflower Snow Chou Fleur A La Neige Recipes

CAULIFLOWER SNOW (CHOU-FLEUR A LA NEIGE)

Steps:

• Cut cauliflower into fleurettes and cook in boiling salted water, stems down, for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Saute onion in 2 tbsp of butter until soft, then add tomatoes and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• In another pan, add remaining butter.
• When butter has melted add the flour and make a roux.
• Add milk and stir until thickened, season with salt and pepper.
• Add 1 cup of the grated cheese to the milk mixture.
• Arrange cauliflower in gratin dish or shallow casserole, spoon the onion and tomato mixture over top.
• Add cheese sauce being sure to coat all the veggies.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff and arrange on top of cauliflower.
• Make four pockets for the egg yolks and drop a yolk into each pocket.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese and broil until crisp and golden brown.

CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO PUREE (PUREE DE CHOU-FLEUR)

Steps:

• Boil the vegetables until tender, about 15 minutes for the cauliflower and 30 minutes for the potatoes.
• Drain the vegetables and puree them together in a food processor. The puree should be moist enough, but if it isn't, add some milk.
• Stir in the butter and season with the salt and pepper. Blend well. (The puree can be made a day or two in advance and covered with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. Reheat in a water bath (bain-marie) or microwave oven.).
• NOTE: When boiling vegetables for a puree, I find that very little additional liquid is necessary for the puree. I steamed my vegetables until soft.
• VARIATIONS:.
• In step 1, when you cook the cauliflower, add one or all of the following: 1 onion, diced; 2 garlic cloves, or 2 carrots, thickly sliced.
• PUREE de NAVETS (Turnip Puree): To use turnips in place of cauliflower, boil equal amounts of potatoes and turnips, cut into chunks, until tender, about 15 minutes for turnips and 30 minutes for potatoes. Prepare as above.
• PUREE de BROCOLI (Broccoli Puree): Substitute 3 pounds of broccoli for the cauliflower.
• At Home With The French Classics.