Crusty Cauliflower and Ricotta Casserole

Asheats's Note:

This is my all-time favorite way to serve cauliflower!!!!

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 1.0 casserole

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 (14 ½ ounce) can diced tomatoes , undrained
• 1 head cauliflower , cut into small flowerets (about 6 cups)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• ¾ cup milk
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley , minced
• ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• black pepper
• 1 cup muenster cheese , grated
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs , sauted in butter

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Cook garlic for 30 seconds, DO NOT BROWN.
3. Add in tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes, stirring often.
4. Stir in cauliflower and toss to coat with the tomato mixture.
5. Pour in several tbsp of water and cover pan.
6. Cook for 7 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender.
7. Take pan off heat and let cool to room temperature or warm.
8. Preheat oven to 375.
9. Butter a casserole dish.
10. Beat eggs in a large bowl, beat in ricotta cheese, milk, Parmesan, parsley, nutmeg, cayenne, pepper, and muenster.
11. Stir in cauliflower mixture.
12. Spread into casserole dish and top with breadcrumbs
13. Bake 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Reviews

[NorthwestGal]

This was a really good casserole, and it goes together pretty quickly. I thought the ricotta mixture really dressed up the cauliflower. And the recipe makes enough that you can serve this either as a main entree or as a vegetable side dish. I went really light on the cayenne since my family does not anything spicy. The next time I make this, I'd like to add a bit of sliced zucchini (since we have so much of it right now!). I made this for PAC Fall '08.

[OceanLuvinGranny]

This is one great dish!! I had a cooked head of cauliflower in the fridge and I just used that. We had planned to use it and then ended up doing something alltogether different when company stopped by. Anyway, I tried this recipe and my family loved it. I left out the nutmeg because we don't care for it. But, I think it was still just as good without it. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! It will be our family's all time favorite way to have cauliflower now too! We happen to love cauliflower any way we can get it...lol. I hope everybody tries this because we can sure highly recommend it.