Finnish Cauliflower Custard

Submitted by Acerast

"Cauliflower is a favorite in Finland. This is from Florence Schwartz's "Vegetable Cooking of All Nations" (a discarded library book full of recipe gems that I bought about 25 years ago at a library book sale for 50 cents :)"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 1 cauliflower, separated into flowerets
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
• 2 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 1⁄4 teaspoon white pepper

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Place the cauliflower in a saucepan, cover with water, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower is just tender-crisp; drain.
4. Butter a 1-1/2 quart casserole and arrange the flowerets in it.
5. In a small saucepan melt the butter.
6. Stir in the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the parsley, stirring until smooth (a roux whisk can be helpful).
7. Slowly add 1 cup of the milk, stirring to incorporate, and cook until thickened.
8. Pour mixture over the cauliflower.
9. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs.
10. Into the egg mixture, stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, white pepper and remaining milk.
11. Pour over the creamed cauliflower in the casserole.
12. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the custard is set.
13. Serve hot.

Reviews

[windhorse23]

I liked it. I think it would make a yummy and different breakfast casserole, too. I steamed my cauliflower, and I used skim milk, which made the mixture a little thin but worked ok. Nice recipe.

 

[Montana Heart Song]

Excellent! I used the custard gravy to serve over boiled chunk potatoes and I made my famous Finn Bread(my lovely adopted Finn Aunts taught me to make it) and served with flat cheese. This was a heavy satisfying meal without meat. The cauliflower had just the right flavor to compliment the Finn Bread and cheese. I did chop some green onions into the custard before baking. Thanks for posting!

 

[Manami]

Hi acerast, didn't know that cauliflower is a favorite in Finland! I have made this twice; once as is and the other time my way! I used your recipe as the basis; but added cheddar cheese (shredded), crushed red pepper flakes (for that extra zing) & cut down on the salt because of the cheese, it too was very good! I love your recipe and it's variation! Thank you for posting, Diane :)

 

[Caroline Cooks]

Very good; I do know that Scandnavian recipes can be lacking in spices, so this was made to exactly the recipe specs...next time I will add some additional spices and cheese. Made for ZWT3.