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Cauliflower Gratin

Smothered in a rich, creamy Gruyère-cheese sauce, then sprinkled with toasted parmesan bread crumbs, cauliflower becomes a favorite-comfort-food contender.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

3 slices white sandwich bread, torn into large pieces
2 tablespoons coarsely grated parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), trimmed and cut into small florets (see below)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup coarsely grated Gruyère cheese (4 ounces)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, pulse bread and parmesan until coarse crumbs form.

    Step 2

    In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute (do not let it darken). Gradually whisk in milk.

    Step 3

    Add cauliflower, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cover, and cook until cauliflower is starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; gradually stir in Gruyère.

    Step 4

    Transfer cauliflower mixture to a 2-quart baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with bread-crumb mixture. Cover with aluminum foil; bake until cauliflower is just tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking until bread crumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes more. Serve hot.

  2. Cutting Florets

    Step 5

    For even cooking, cut the florets into similar sizes, leaving the small ones whole and halving or quartering the large ones.

Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Copyright © 2010 by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Published by the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Martha Stewart Living magazine was first published in 1990. Over the years, more than two dozen books have been published by the magazine’s editors. Martha Stewart is the author of dozens of best-selling books on cooking, entertaining, gardening, weddings, and decorating. She is the host of The Martha Stewart Show, the successful daily syndicated television show.
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