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If cauliflower is ever a company dish,
this preparation qualifies. Serve it with Cajun grilled or blackened
fish for a delightful combination. It is such a simple lunch recipe.
Makes 6 servings
2 tablespoons butter, plus additional for
buttering
Plain dried bred crumbs
1/2 medium size head cauliflower, cored,
separated into tiny flowerets, boiled in salted water to cover until
very tender and drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pinch ground red (cayenne) pepper
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup milk, hot
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
Cheddar pepper Sauce (recipe follows)
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Generously
butter an 8 inch flan mold or round cake pan. Coat with the dried bread
crumbs, knocking out any excess.
Toss the cauliflower with 2 tablespoons
of the butter. Season well with salt, black pepper, and red pepper.
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In a large bowl, beat together the eggs,
milk and fresh bread crumbs. Stir in the cauliflower. Pour the mixture
into the prepared mold.
Place the mold in a larger shallows
baking pan and pour in boiling water to reach about halfway up the
mold.
Bake until the center is set, about 30
minutes. Remove the mold from the water bath and unmold onto a heated
serving platter. Serve with the cheddar pepper sauce.
Variation: substitute an equal amount of
broccoli for the cauliflower
Cheddar Pepper Sauce
Makes about 1 cup
1 tablespoon olive oil
One 6 ounce can chopped green chilies
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1/2 medium size onion, very thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dry white wine
Hot pepper sauce to taste
8 ounces mild Cheddar cheese, grated (2 cups); or 8 ounces processed
pasteurized cheese, such as Velveeta, cubed
Preheat the oven to 325F.
In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil
over low heat. Stir in the chiles, jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic and
wine. Cover and cook, stirring from time to time, over very low heat
until soft, about 20 minutes. Stir in the hot pepper sauce.
Spoon the pepper mixture into a small
deep ovenproof casserole. Spread the cheese on top. Bake the casserole
until the cheese is melted and mixture is bubbling, about 20 minutes.
Stir to combine peppers and cheese. Spoon over the cauliflower flan, or
serve with crisp tortilla chips.
Note: a faster version of this sauce can
be made by spooning the cooked pepper mixture into a small microwave
dish. Add the pasteurized cheese cubes (grated Cheddar doesn't melt
very well in the microwave), and microwave on high for 4 minutes.
Remove from the microwave and stir well before proceeding.
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