Cauliflower Bacon Gratin Food

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER & BACON GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the bacon for 5 mins until just starting to crisp. Add the onion and sizzle for 12 mins until soft and golden.
• Meanwhile, tip the potatoes into a large pan of water, making sure they are well covered. Bring to a gentle boil, then add the cauliflower and cook everything for 6-7 mins until both are tender. Tip into a colander and drain thoroughly.
• In a gratin dish, layer the potato and cauliflower, then scatter with bacon, onion and a small handful of cheese. Drizzle each layer with a little cream and season. Continue until all the layers are finished, pour over the remaining cream and scatter with the last of the cheese. Bake for 30 mins until bubbling. Remove from the oven and set aside for 1 min to rest. Serve straight from the dish with a crisp green salad.

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Off the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, the pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere, and the Parmesan.
• Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of Gruyere and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER AND BACON GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a pan and fry the pancetta for 5 minutes, until just starting to crisp.
• Add the onion and cook for 12 minutes until soft and golden.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes into a large pan of water, making sure they are well covered.
• Bring to a gentle boil, then add the cauliflower and cook everything for 6 to 7 minutes until both are tender.
• Tip into a colander and drain thoroughly.
• In a gratin dish, layer the potato and cauliflower, then scatter with the bacon and onion mixture and a handful of cheese.
• Drizzle each layer with a little cream and season with salt and pepper.
• Continue until all the layers are finished, pour over the remaining cream and scatter with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes until bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 1 minute, then serve with a nice green salad.

CAULIFLOWER BACON GRATIN

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 425° F (232°C). Generously butter a 2 1/2-quart ovenproof dish and place it on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper. (It's not elegant and it's a tad too big, but a 9-by-13-inch baking dish works fine.).
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut florets from the cauliflower, leaving about an inch or so of stem. Drop the florets into the boiling water and cook until fork-tender, anywhere from 4 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the florets. (Alternatively, you can steam the florets over salted water.) Drain and rinse the cauliflower florets under cold running water to cool them and pat them completely dry.
• While the cauliflower is cooking, toss the bacon strips into a heavy skillet, place the skillet over medium heat, and cook just until the bacon is browned but not crisp. Drain and pat dry.
• Spread the cauliflower in the buttered pan and scatter the bacon over the top.
• Place the flour in a bowl and gradually whisk in the eggs until blended. Slowly whisk in the cream and milk. Season the mixture with the salt, pepper, and nutmeg and stir in about 2/3 of the cheese. Pour the mixture over the cauliflower and bacon, shaking the pan a little so that the liquid settles between the florets. Scatter the remaining cheese over the top.
• Bake the cauliflower-bacon gratin for about 25 minutes, or until puffed and golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top isn't as brown as you'd like, run the gratin under the broiler for a couple of minutes.
• The gratin is best just from the oven or warm, although it can be enjoyed at room temperature, just like a quiche. You really should eat the cauliflower-bacon gratin the day it's made, but if you've got leftovers, cover and refrigerate them, then let them come to room temperature or warm briefly and gently in the oven.