Broccoli Pecorino Gratin Food

BROCCOLI-PECORINO GRATINATA

Steps:

• Cook broccoli in boiling salted water until crisp-tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes. Drain and cool. Cut florets lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Coat large oval gratin or 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with butter. Arrange broccoli slices, overlapping snugly, in rows in dish. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Dot with 1/4 cup butter, then sprinkle with cheese. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake gratinata uncovered until cheese is melted and broccoli tops brown, about 20 minutes.

LOT 2'S PECORINO FRIED BREAD WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. If using regular broccoli, cut into 2-inch pieces. Trim broccoli di ciccio or broccolette but leave whole. Blanch broccoli until bright green and just tender, about 1 minute. Transfer to ice water to cool. Let drain and squeeze out extra moisture. Roughly chop broccoli into bite-size pieces.
• Mince 3 garlic cloves and halve the remaining one.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high until hot but not smoking. Fry 2 pieces of bread until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Set bread aside. Repeat with 2 more tablespoons olive oil and remaining bread.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet. Add minced garlic, the anchovies and chile flakes, and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add broccoli and heat until warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in lemon juice and zest and a pinch of salt, or to taste.
• Rub fried bread with garlic clove halves and sprinkle with some of the cheese. Place broccoli on top of bread and garnish with more cheese.

BROCCOLI-PECORINO GRATIN

Steps:

• Microwave 8 cups broccoli florets, covered, until just tender, 8 minutes; transfer to a small baking dish. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 4 teaspoons flour; cook, whisking, until smooth, 2 minutes. Add 1 1/4 cups milk; season with salt, black pepper and cayenne. Cook, whisking, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons grated pecorino romano. Pour over the broccoli and toss; top with more pecorino. Broil until browned.

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Trim the cauliflower; separate the flowerettes and cook in the milk and the 1/2 teaspoons salt until tender, 10-15 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/3 Cup of the milk.
• Arrange the cooked cauliflower in a lightly buttered 9x7 baking dish. Beat together the egg and reserved milk. Add the cheese and spread over the flowerettes. Add salt and pepper. Dot with butter.
• Broil the gratin until browned and bubbly. (I use a "low broil" on my oven, for about 5-7 minutes.) Serve hot.