Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Stuffed Cauliflower Food

WHOLE ROASTED STUFFED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Arrange the bacon on the prepared baking sheet and roast until the bacon is browned and the fat has rendered, 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, finely chop and transfer to a medium bowl. Reserve the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, bring a heavily salted pot of water to a boil over high heat (the water should be very salty, even more than the sea). Carefully remove as much of the cauliflower stem as you can without cutting any of the stalks of the florets. Remove any small inner leaves. (You want to be able to freely pipe filling into the nooks of the cauliflower.)
• Boil the cauliflower until just beginning to get tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not overcook, or it will break apart as you stuff it. Carefully remove the head from the water and allow to drain and cool.
• Add the kale to the same pot and cook bright green, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze dry. When cool enough to handle, finely chop and transfer to the bowl with the bacon.
• Add the eggs, scallions, garlic, Muenster, cream, 1/2 cup panko, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 2 tablespoons oregano to the kale mixture and stir to combined. Transfer to a large piping bag (or 1-gallon freezer bag) and cut a 3/4-inch opening at the tip. Turn the cauliflower stem-side up, and start piping the filling in between the stalks of the florets until you've used about half of the filling. (The bottom of the head will start to expand, and you will see the filling start to push out from the top in between the florets. Turn the cauliflower right-side up and use your finger to push between the florets to separate them slightly and pipe filling in the gaps. Use all the filling, even if it looks like the cauliflower is going to explode -- it won't. It will just be full of flavor!
• Mix together the butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons panko, 2 tablespoons Parmesan and 1 tablespoon oregano in a small bowl. Put the cauliflower right-side up in the center of the reserved baking sheet and smear with the butter mixture to coat the entire head. Bake until deep golden brown, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

LOADED CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cook the bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until brown and crispy, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.
• Put the cauliflower florets in a 3-quart casserole dish. Toss with the reserved 2 tablespoons bacon drippings, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast until the florets are soft and begin to brown, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the cream cheese and 1 cup of the Cheddar in a medium bowl until well combined. Dollop over the cauliflower, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup Cheddar and bake until the cauliflower is tender when poked with a knife and the Cheddar is melted and bubbly, 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Dollop the sour cream evenly over the casserole and sprinkle with the scallions and reserved bacon pieces.

CHEDDAR CHEESE-STUFFED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Sprinkle generously with salt. Trim the base of the cauliflower so the stem is flat to the head but without cutting off any florets. Blanch the cauliflower until just beginning to soften, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a plate to cool slightly.
• In a small skillet, heat the butter until melted. Add the breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon salt and toast until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Stir in the Parmesan and basil.
• Gently begin to create space in between the florets and stuff each space with a log of Cheddar. Continue until all the pieces of cheese are used. Press the toasted breadcrumbs on top of the cauliflower. Place in a small baking dish and bake until the cauliflower is tender all the way through and the breadcrumbs are golden, about 20 minutes.

BACON WRAPPED CHEDDAR STUFFED CAULIFLOWER RECIPE

Steps:

• Add the cauliflower to a water-filled deep pot over high heat and bring it to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Place the cooked cauliflower on the work surface and bore deep holes in it using a cylindrical cutter. We made 13 of them. Insert the Cheddar sticks into the holes. Line a medium bowl with the bacon slices. Do that so that they radiate from the bottom center of the bowl upwards to its rim. Place the stuffed cauliflower in the bacon-lined bowl. For the sauce: Add the heavy cream, garlic powder, and paprika powder to a smaller bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix. Cover the cauliflower with this sauce using a kitchen brush. Wrap it with the bacon slices. Transfer the wrapped cauliflower on a parchment paper-lined baking tray and bake for 50 minutes at 320⁰F/160⁰C. Remove from oven and add the mozzarella on top. Bake for 10 minutes at 360⁰F/180⁰C. Serve garnished with fresh dill.

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE WITH BACON AND CHEDDAR

Steps:

• Mix bacon, 1/2 cup cheese, and parsley in small bowl. Set aside for topping.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tbsp salt and cauliflower, cook until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer half to cutting board and roughly chop.
• Melt cream cheese on low heat. Stir in heavy cream and remaining 2 1/2 cups of cheddar, cook until starts to melt.
• Off heat stir in sour cream, cauliflower, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. Transfer to a 2 quart baking dish, sprinkle with topping, and bake until brown and bubbly, about 15 minutes.