Cauliflower Supreme

Submitted by Ivana

"The humble cauliflower is transformed! I would describe this dish as souffle meets au gratin.It is a delicious vegetable dish, passed down from the generations in my Czech family. Thanks to my mother for this recipe. Ingredients are approximate as my mother and grandmother don't really measure their ingredients (but I have done my best). Feeds 4-6 generously but can be cut into smaller serves. This is just a humble old Czech family recipe and the beauty lies in the simplistic taste of this dish. Something "different" with cauliflower, which can be a bland vegetable. Please try and I hope you enjoy this dish."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 800 g of parboiled cauliflower florets
• 125 g plain flour
• 73.94 ml butter
• 3 eggs, separated
• 78.78 ml grated parmesan cheese
• 118.29 ml shredded parmesan cheese
• 700 ml milk
• 0.25 ml salt
• sprinkling nutmeg (optional)
• 29.58 ml dry breadcrumbs (approximately)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 180* Celsius. Grease a 20cm springform pan with butter (extra) and then coat the sides and bottom of the pan with the breadcrumbs.
2. Parboil your cauliflower to crisp-tender. I boil mine whole then cut into florets. You need a medium sized cauliflower approximately or enough florets to loosely fill the springfrom pan.
3. In a saucepan, melt the butter and then add the flour (roux mix). Cook on medium heat, stirring often for about 5 mins (should be a golden colour).
4. Gradually pour in the milk - keep stirring to rid any lumps for a few minutes more. Stir in the 1/3 cup of GRATED parmesan cheese.
5. Lower the heat, cool slightly and then gradually add the beaten egg yolks. Mix well. Note this mixture will be very thick - like a choux pastry mix. Sprinkle in nutmeg (optional).
6. Add this mixture to the cauliflower florets to thickly coat and cover them. Set aside.
7. In a bowl, whisk up the egg whites with the salt until it looks like a meringue mixture(snowy white peaks stage). FOLD this mixture through the florets mixture. Then gently spoon into your prepared springform pan.Sprinkle the top with 1/2 cup of the SHREDDED parmesan cheese.
8. Bake in the oven for about 40mins or until done. The top will be browned. Enjoy. Add additional seasoning/salt to taste if desired.

Reviews

[Sonja South Africa]

Ivana, I tried this twicek, the first time exactly as per your recipe, and was very disappointed. The second time I doubled the butter to form a proper roux, used equal quantities of cauliflower and broccoli for colour, added some very mature cheddar cheese and some herb salt to the mixture. Now I will give it 5 stars, both for flavour and knock-out looks. Thanks for a great recipe.