Best Cauliflower And Cheese Puff Recipes

GIANT CAULIFLOWER CHEESE PUFF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly spray a 9 by 13 inch pan with nonstick spray, then add the butter.
• Place the pan in the preheated oven for a minute or so to melt the butter, then take it out and carefully tilt it in all directions to let the butter coat the bottom.
• Set aside.
• Place a 10 inch skillet over medium heat and wait a few minutes.
• Add the olive oil, wait about 10 seconds, then swirl to coat the pan.
• Add the onions, saute` for 5 minutes, then stir in the salt and the cauliflower.
• Saute` over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is just tender.
• Transfer this mixture to the prepared pan.
• While the cauliflower is cooking, combine the eggs, milk, flour, and cheese in a blender.
• Whip into a smooth batter and pour it over the cauliflower mixture in the pan.
• Bake in the center of the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
• Serve hot or warm, cut into squares.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, then add 1 large cauliflower, broken into pieces, and cook for 5 mins - lift out a piece to test, it should be cooked.
• Drain the cauliflower, then tip into an ovenproof dish. Heat oven to 220C/200C/gas 7.
• Put the saucepan back on the heat and add 500ml milk, 4 tbsp flour and 50g butter.
• Keep whisking fast as the butter melts and the mixture comes to the boil - the flour will disappear and the sauce will begin to thicken. Whisk for 2 mins while the sauce bubbles and becomes nice and thick.
• Turn off the heat, stir in most of the 100g grated cheddar cheese and pour over the cauliflower. Scatter over the remaining cheese, and 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs if using.
• Put in the oven and bake for 20 mins until bubbling.

PUFFED CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Wash cauliflower; remove stalk end.
• Cut into quarters; remove hard stalk.
• Divide into florets; cook in boiling salted water until tender; drain.
• Heat butter in pan.
• Add flour; stir over low heat 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add milk gradually; stir until smooth.
• Return to heat; stir until boiling.
• Add salt, pepper and most of bread crumbs.
• Stir in egg yolks, cheese and cauliflower; adjust seasonings to taste.
• Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into mixture.
• Put into greased ovenproof dish; sprinkle with remaining crumbs.
• Bake in preheated 400 degree oven about 30 minutes, until well risen and brown.

CAULIFLOWER, LEEK & CHEDDAR PIE WITH MUSTARD & THYME PASTRY

Steps:

• For the pastry, put the flour in a food processor with the butter, mustard and thyme leaves, and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 4-6 tbsp cold water and pulse again until it forms a ball. Wrap and chill for 30 mins.
• For the filling, break the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets (keep the leaves for stock or roast until crisp and serve alongside the pie), and chop the stalk into 2cm pieces. Steam in a steamer or steamer basket set over a pan of simmering water for 8-10 mins until the stalk pieces are just tender, but not cooked through. Remove from the steamer and leave to cool and steam-dry on a plate.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a low heat and fry the leeks with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until softened. Add a splash of water if they start to turn lightly golden and cook until the water has evaporated. Remove from the heat.
• Cut off a third of the pastry and set aside. Roll out the rest on a floured work surface to a round large enough to line a 25cm wide and 7cm deep pie dish (enamel pie dishes work well for this). Line the dish and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl with some seasoning. Reserve a little of the beaten egg in a small bowl, then fold the cheese, cauliflower and leeks into the remaining egg. Tip the filling into the pie dish and spread out evenly. Roll out the remaining pastry and use to cover the pie, using some of the reserved egg to seal it to the edge. Crimp the edge and trim any excess, then chill for 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the top of the pie with the remaining beaten egg and bake for 45 mins until golden and crisp on top. Stand for 10 minutes before serving with roast potatoes.