Cauliflower Lasagne Food

CAULIFLOWER LASAGNE

Steps:

• Prep:.
• Start by making the cauliflower noodles. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit). Remove the leaves and core from a head of cauliflower and start chopping the cauli into small pieces. I use my knife, but you can certainly do this in a food processor. My cauliflower yielded 6 cups, shoot for that on your end so that the egg ratio is close.
• The cauliflower pieces need to be steamed; use whatever contraption you prefer. Stove-top or microwave makes no difference to me... I covered and microwaved for several minutes (about 6) until it was cooked but not total mush.
• When hot, use a potato masher or pastry cutter to break down the cauliflower. Cauliflower releases a fair amount of liquid while it cooks, so try to drain off what you can. Then add the seasonings and combine. Add the eggs last and either continue using the masher to combine or grab a spatula... whatever works for you.
• I am addicted to my silicone baking sheet and definitely recommend it, although basic parchment paper works as well, I'm told. There is no added fat (other than egg) to the cauliflower, so the sticking potential is high. Be sure to use one of the two. Spread the cauliflower dough/batter onto a large silicone baking sheet. You have to eyeball whatever baking dish you plan to use for the lasagna and think how large to spread out the cauliflower so that when you cut it in two large sections, the layers will fit squarely in the baking dish. Obviously you won't be preparing a 10×13-sized casserole dish with only 6 cups of cauliflower, so make necessary adjustments. The dish I used is your basic oval 2.8 liter corning ware baker, about 8″ x 11″ x 3″. The picture below shows a standard-sized cookie sheet (American 17″ x 12″) and the cauli was about a half inch thick.
• Bake the cauliflower for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. It needs to be a little overcooked and dried out since it will be soon layered with tomato saucy goodness.
• While the cauliflower is in the oven, we need to make the bolognese.
• Classic bolognese starts with mirepoix (carrot, onion and celery) and that's what we're going to do here. Heat a large or wide pan to medium or medium-high. This can be a dutch oven or even a large skillet. Drizzle in a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil... enough to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.
• While that comes to temp, peel and chop the carrots, dice the onion and the celery. Add those to the hot pan and sprinkle with the kosher salt and other seasonings. It will look kinda strange if you're not in the habit of building sauces in this order, but roll with it. This method gets the oils going and rehydrates the dried herbs before the tomatoes hit. Sauté for about 4-5 minutes, then add minced garlic and the sausage. Cook until the sausage has browned. The canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and chicken stock now joins the party. Stir and simmer for 15 minutes or so on medium-low heat. Cover if your sauce starts to dry out (or if it's splattering everywhere and making a mess of your stove).
• When the cauliflower "noodle" has finished cooking, remove from oven and transfer to a large cutting board or work surface. Depending on the size and shape of your lasagne pan and thus the size and shape of your cauli noodle, divide into two sections that will perfectly layer your lasagne. Remove the bolognese from the heat and grab your baking dish.
• To build the lasagne I layered like this:.
• 1) about a cup of sauce.
• 2) cauliflower "noodle".
• 3) half the remaining sauce.
• 4) a couple handfuls of baby spinach.
• 5) the second cauliflower "noodle".
• 6) the remaining sauce.
• Cover and bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes. Just enough to bring everything together and for the sauce to get bubbly around the edges.
• Serve with fresh basil for a dairy-free, grain-free DELICIOUS lasagne!

BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan add onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until translucent- about 5 minutes.
• Add peppers, vegetable stock, tomato puree and chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil.
• Add cauliflower, broccoli, courgette and seasoning bring back to the boil- now cover and reduce heat- allow to simmer gently for 30 minutes.
• Start white sauce approximately 10 minutes before vegetable sauce is ready-melt butter and stir in the flour- cook over a low heat for about 1 minute.
• Increase heat- gradually add milk stirring continually.
• Once sauce has thickened add mustard and half of the grated smoked cheese- stir to mix in the cheese then remove sauce from heat.
• Place 3 sheets of lasagne in a baking dish measuring 9 x 12 inches- pour on half the vegetable sauce then add 2nd layer of lasagne-next add half the white sauce then remaining vegetable sauce-add final layer of lasagne and top with white sauce.
• Sprinkle the parmesan and remaining smoked cheese on top.
• Cook in the centre of a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/gas 4 for 35 minutes.

LASAGNA WITH SPICY ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut away the bottom of the cauliflower stem and trim off the leaves. Cut the cauliflower into slices 1/3 inch thick, letting the florets on the edges fall off. Toss all of it, including the bits that have fallen away, with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on the baking sheet in an even layer. Roast for about 15 minutes, stirring and flipping over the big slices after 8 minutes, until the slices are tender when pierced with a paring knife and the small florets are nicely browned. Remove from the oven, toss with the red pepper flakes and set aside. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees.
• Blend the ricotta cheese, water or stock, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Oil a rectangular baking dish and spread a spoonful of tomato sauce over the bottom. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Spoon a thin layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with a layer of cauliflower, then a layer of tomato sauce and a layer of Parmesan. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the mixture is bubbling. Uncover and, if you wish, bake another 10 minutes, until the top begins to brown. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 180°C Cook the cauliflower and broccoli in boiling salted water for about 10 minutes.
• Soak the lasagna sheets in hot ( not boiling ) water to soften. If using fresh lasagna sheets skip this step.
• mix the creme fraiche with 3 tbsp of water anf the herbs. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush an ovenproof dish with oil and pour in 3 tbsp of creme fraiche. line a third of the lasagna sheets, followed by half of the broccoli/cauliflower, half the ham, half the tomatoes, a third of the cheese and a third of teh creme fraiche sauce.
• Repeat the layers, finishing with a layer of pasta. Pour over remaining creme fraiche and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for 40 minutes, then grill the top under a grill until it browns and bubbles. If you don't have a grill just bake an extra 10 minutes at 190°C.