Cauliflower Stuffing Food

STUFFING-STUFFED WHOLE CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted 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 stalk or the florets away. Remove all of the leaves including any small inner ones.
• Boil the cauliflower head until it just tender, 6 to 8 minutes. (Take care not to overcook or it will break apart as you stuff it.) Carefully remove the head from the water and allow to drain and cool.
• Meanwhile, brush 2 pieces of bread with 1 tablespoon butter each. Cut into 1/4-inch cubes (it's important that the cubes be this small or it will not pipe out of the bag) and transfer to a medium bowl. Finely chop the remaining piece of unbuttered bread and pulse in a food processor until fine crumbs. Add 2 tablespoons butter and the Parmesan and pulse until combined. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the bowl of the food processor.
• Pulse the parsley, thyme, sage, celery, egg, bouillon cube, 2 tablespoons water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in the food processor until very finely chopped and wet. Fold the vegetable mixture into the bread cubes and stir until smooth and pipeable. Transfer to a large pastry bag (or a 1-gallon freezer bag) and cut a 3/4-inch opening at the tip.
• Turn the cauliflower over, stem-side up, and start piping the filling in between the stalks of the florets until you've used about half of the filling. Use your fingers to push the filling down into the holes of the cauliflower. Fill the rest of the cauliflower with the remaining filling. (Use all the filling, even if it looks like the cauliflower is going to explode. It won't.) Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, stem-side down.
• Brush the outside of the cauliflower with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Press the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture evenly over the cauliflower. Bake until the cauliflower is soft and easily pierced with a fork and the breadcrumbs are a deep golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then cut the cauliflower into wedges and sprinkle with salt to taste.

CAULIFLOWER STUFFING

Steps:

• Place sausage into a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Add butter, then stir in onion, celery, mushrooms, and carrots; cook for 5 more minutes.
• Mix in cauliflower, broth, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 5 more minutes.

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.

ROASTED STUFFED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Trim and discard the cauliflower leaves. Turn the cauliflower upside-down on a chopping board and use your knife to carefully cut out the stalk and core, leaving a cavity - the florets should still be holding together.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Submerge the cauliflower and cook for 7 mins, then remove with two slotted spoons and set aside to steam dry. Add the kale to the pan and cook for a min or so until wilted. Drain, then run under cold water to cool. Squeeze out the excess liquid and roughly chop.
• To make a linseed 'egg' (this will bind the stuffing together), mix the ground linseed with 3 tbsp water and set aside for 5-10 mins until gluey. Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan, add the onion and a pinch of salt, and cook until softened, then stir in the remaining stuffing ingredients, including the kale, and cook for a min or so more. Remove from the heat and season, then put in a blender with 150ml water and the linseed egg and blitz to a thick purée. Transfer to a piping bag.
• Pipe the stuffing mixture into every nook and cranny of the cauliflower, getting in as much of the purée as you can - see our tip below. Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment. Can be made up to this point in the morning and kept in the fridge.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the remaining chestnuts with the breadcrumbs and some seasoning. Spoon the remaining oil all over the cauliflower, then pat on the breadcrumb chestnut mix. Roast for 45 mins until golden brown and tender (place under a hot grill for the last part of cooking time if it needs to crisp-up). Serve with any crisp bits that have fallen onto the baking tray.

CAULIFLOWER STUFFING

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots, celery and onion. Cook and stir until crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Add cauliflower, mushrooms, salt and pepper; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Stir in broth, rosemary and sage. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, until vegetables are just tender, 10-12 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE WITH STUFFING TOPPING

Steps:

• Cook and drain cauliflower.
• Place in a 2-quart casserole.
• Melt butter, stir in flour and cook a few minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and blend in milk.
• Return to stove and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Simmer until thickened.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Pour over cauliflower in casserole.
• Topping: Combine stuffing mix, water and butter.
• Spoon on top of casserole, pressing down.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.