Cheesy Stuffed Cauliflower Recipes

WHOLE ROASTED STUFFED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Arrange the bacon on the prepared baking sheet and roast until the bacon is browned and the fat has rendered, 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, finely chop and transfer to a medium bowl. Reserve the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, bring a heavily salted pot of water to a boil over high heat (the water should be very salty, even more than the sea). Carefully remove as much of the cauliflower stem as you can without cutting any of the stalks of the florets. Remove any small inner leaves. (You want to be able to freely pipe filling into the nooks of the cauliflower.)
• Boil the cauliflower until just beginning to get tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not overcook, or it will break apart as you stuff it. Carefully remove the head from the water and allow to drain and cool.
• Add the kale to the same pot and cook bright green, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze dry. When cool enough to handle, finely chop and transfer to the bowl with the bacon.
• Add the eggs, scallions, garlic, Muenster, cream, 1/2 cup panko, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 2 tablespoons oregano to the kale mixture and stir to combined. Transfer to a large piping bag (or 1-gallon freezer bag) and cut a 3/4-inch opening at the tip. Turn the cauliflower stem-side up, and start piping the filling in between the stalks of the florets until you've used about half of the filling. (The bottom of the head will start to expand, and you will see the filling start to push out from the top in between the florets. Turn the cauliflower right-side up and use your finger to push between the florets to separate them slightly and pipe filling in the gaps. Use all the filling, even if it looks like the cauliflower is going to explode -- it won't. It will just be full of flavor!
• Mix together the butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons panko, 2 tablespoons Parmesan and 1 tablespoon oregano in a small bowl. Put the cauliflower right-side up in the center of the reserved baking sheet and smear with the butter mixture to coat the entire head. Bake until deep golden brown, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

CHEESY STUFFED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Use a knife to cut the stem out of the cauliflower head; it should look like a bowl when done. Dip cauliflower into the beaten egg. Dip outside in bread crumbs to cover, leaving space where stem was removed. Place into a deep oven-safe baking dish.
• Mix chili powder, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder together in a small bowl.
• Place Colby-Jack cheese in the empty "bowl" space of cauliflower. Sprinkle seasoning mix all over top of cheese and cauliflower.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cauliflower is tender, about 1 hour.

STUFFING-STUFFED WHOLE CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat (the water should be very salty--even more than the sea). Carefully remove as much of the cauliflower stem as you can without cutting any of the stalk or the florets away. Remove all of the leaves including any small inner ones.
• Boil the cauliflower head until it just tender, 6 to 8 minutes. (Take care not to overcook or it will break apart as you stuff it.) Carefully remove the head from the water and allow to drain and cool.
• Meanwhile, brush 2 pieces of bread with 1 tablespoon butter each. Cut into 1/4-inch cubes (it's important that the cubes be this small or it will not pipe out of the bag) and transfer to a medium bowl. Finely chop the remaining piece of unbuttered bread and pulse in a food processor until fine crumbs. Add 2 tablespoons butter and the Parmesan and pulse until combined. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the bowl of the food processor.
• Pulse the parsley, thyme, sage, celery, egg, bouillon cube, 2 tablespoons water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in the food processor until very finely chopped and wet. Fold the vegetable mixture into the bread cubes and stir until smooth and pipeable. Transfer to a large pastry bag (or a 1-gallon freezer bag) and cut a 3/4-inch opening at the tip.
• Turn the cauliflower over, stem-side up, and start piping the filling in between the stalks of the florets until you've used about half of the filling. Use your fingers to push the filling down into the holes of the cauliflower. Fill the rest of the cauliflower with the remaining filling. (Use all the filling, even if it looks like the cauliflower is going to explode. It won't.) Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, stem-side down.
• Brush the outside of the cauliflower with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Press the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture evenly over the cauliflower. Bake until the cauliflower is soft and easily pierced with a fork and the breadcrumbs are a deep golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then cut the cauliflower into wedges and sprinkle with salt to taste.

LOADED CHEESY CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower; cover, and steam until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and let cool 10 minutes.
• Combine mozzarella cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, 1/2 the bacon bits, and chives in a large bowl. Add cauliflower; mix well. Pour mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle remaining bacon bits and Cheddar cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

BAKED CHEESY CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Place cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl with 1/2 cup water. Microwave until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Whisk egg and flour together in a bowl. Add milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over cauliflower florets. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese and paprika on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and cauliflower is soft, 30 to 40 minutes.