Northern Italian Cauliflower Gratin Recipes

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 1-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Trim the cauliflower and cut into florets.
• Steam the cauliflower in a large pot with a little water over medium-low heat until tender. Remove the cauliflower from the pot to a towel to remove excise moisture.
• Heat the butter in a medium saucepan (2-quart) over medium heat. When the butter has melted, whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• Add the milk, whisking constantly to make sure there are no lumps.
• Cook another 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and add the nutmeg.
• Put the cauliflower into the prepared pan. Top with half of the cheese. Pour the white sauce (bechamel) over the cheese. Top with the remaining cheese and the bread crumbs.
• Bake, uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbly.

NORTHERN ITALIAN CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• 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 crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain well.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in flour until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in milk and cream. Increase heat to medium and simmer, whisking frequently, until sauce starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Bring to a boil; continue to cook until sauce is thick, about 5 minutes.
• Stir Parmesan cheese, fontina cheese, salt, nutmeg, and white pepper into sauce. Cook, whisking vigorously, until cheese is melted into the sauce, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Spread 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange cauliflower on top. Drizzle remaining sauce over the cauliflower, coating each floret.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and lightly browned on top, about 10 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Steam cauliflower for 10 minutes.
• Simmer next 4 ingredients for 5 minutes and then add seasonings.
• Combine cauliflower and sauce in baking dish.
• Sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs.
• Bake 15 minutes at 375°.