Cauliflower & Cheese

Ingredients

For the cauliflower

1 head cauliflower, trimmed and broken into florets

For the béchamel sauce

250g/9oz smoked streaky bacon, cut into 1cm/½in strips

250g/9oz chestnut mushrooms, finely sliced

25g/1oz butter

50g/2oz plain flour

250ml/9fl oz full-fat milk

pinch English mustard powder

200g/7oz gruyère cheese, grated

55ml/2fl oz double cream

salt and freshly ground black pepper

pinch ground nutmeg

For the topping

50g/2oz ciabatta breadcrumbs

50g/2oz parmesan cheese, finely grated

To serve

green salad

crusty bread

Preparation method

For the cauliflower, cook the florets in a large pan of boiling water for about 10 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile for the béchamel sauce, fry the bacon strips in a dry frying pan until coloured but not crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, keeping the bacon fat in the pan.

Add the mushrooms to the pan of bacon fat and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until golden-brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Melt the butter in a clean saucepan and beat in the flour until smooth. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth, then stir in the mustard powder, grated cheese and double cream. Keep stirring until the cheese has melted and the mixture is thick and creamy. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then fold in the bacon and mushrooms.
Technique: Thickening a roux to make béchamel sauce
Thickening a roux to make béchamel sauceWatch technique1:57 mins

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Place the cauliflower florets into an ovenproof casserole dish and pour over the cheesy sauce. Sprinkle over a pinch of freshly grounded nutmeg.

For the topping, mix the ciabatta breadcrumbs with the parmesan cheese, then sprinkle the mixture over the cauliflower. Place into the oven for 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden-brown and bubbling.

Spoon the cauliflower cheese onto plates and serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread.

recipe here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/perfect_cauliflower_27405

day 64 Saturday
March 3 2012