Cauliflower Au Gratin

You can smell calories on this one well before you eat it. Didn’t stop me from eating it nevertheless!

Ingredients

Cauliflower cut into small florets – 2 cups

Water – 4 cups

Milk – 2 cups

Butter – 2 tsp

All purpose flour – 2 tsp

Bread crumbs – half a cup

Chopped parsley – 2 tsp

Red chili flakes – half a tsp

Grated cheddar cheese – half a cup

Grated Swiss and mozzarella cheese – half a cup

Salt and pepper

In a deep cooking vessel boil water, add salt and pepper. Cook the cauliflower florets in the water for 7-8 minutes till they are done. Drain and keep aside. In a saucepan heat butter and add flour. Stir briskly for a minute or so till the flour changes color. Whisk in milk slowly. Add the spices and cheddar cheese and turn the heat off. Stir continuously making sure the cheese melts and a thick sauce is formed. Grease a baking casserole and cover it with half the sauce. Layer the cauliflower florets and the remaining sauce again on the florets. Top it with bread crumbs and grated Swiss and mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 F for about 15- 20 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

This recipe is a lighter derivation (if there can be one with cheese in it) of a very comforting, rich classic. Double the cheese and butter to enjoy it in its true avatar. Till then, food and more food….

Tips

*All purpose flour can be substituted with wheat flour.

*Any kind of cheese can be used in place of Swiss and mozzarella.

*Broccoli can be combined with cauliflower in this dish