Cauliflower cheese in a pie? I know, insane! And - insanely good! Delicious, amazing, yummmmm! Why has no one ever thought of this twist on a classic before? Okay, maybe they have, but it's only just turned up on my dinner plate.
And really, this is as easy as ... pie. Cook your cauliflower, moosh it up with some cheese and eggs, and encase it in puffed pastry. Isn't anything better wrapped in pastry? You bet. The crisp flakiness is the perfect contrast to the filling, which is creamy and cheesy but not-too-much.
A good shake of nutmeg adds a cosy flavour for the colder winter months, but if I had fresh chives growing in my garden right now (they are dormant for the winter), then their green speckles and freshness would be another nice take on this pie.
Quite simply, I like this and will definitely make it again. A comforting delicious flavour and so easy to make - who wouldn't?
Mum gave this recipe, and I made her write it out how she made it - not how it appeared in her oven's instruction manual. Now you know where I get my tweaking skills from.
- Preheat oven to 180. Line a 20x20 baking dish (I used my trusty hand-me-down pyrex) with one sheet of (frozen and thawing) ready-made puff pastry, and have another sheet close by for the top.
- Steam 300 gms of cauliflower, then give it a mash (I whizzed it in my food processor) and allow to cool. You could also use leftovers.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cauliflower with 2 eggs, a good half cup of deli ricotta or cottage cheese, and a good cup of grated cheese (I used a strong tasty cheddar; some parmesan would be good too). Add a dash of grated nutmeg and some S&P.
- Add to the pie dish and flatten out lightly. Place the second sheet of pastry on top and crimp the edges together as best you can (which means, don't be too fussy). Wash with a little melted butter or beaten egg and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a light golden brown colour.
- Enjoy!
Thank you e, I am just about to harvest an enormous cauliflower from my garden. I love it but have a bit of trouble selling it to the kids. This could be the trick I am looking for, yum!
ReplyDeleteI did think this would be one of those sneak-the-vegies-to-the-unsuspecting-kids recipes :-) I hope it works, jane!
DeleteThat sounds like a brilliant recipe, I've written it down in my notebook. Like Jane, I think this could be a good one for getting children to eat cauliflower. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI hope your family enjoys it, CJ; i'm sure the cheese and crunchy pastry will distract them from what lurks within :-)
DeleteI'll try this - I love cauliflower. I've tried growing it this year - waiting v patiently for results! So far nice, green leaves. Lol. So the bottom of the pie is OK without blind baking?
ReplyDeleteyes, no blind baking at all. I had to check that with mum before I made it for the first time, too. just whack it all in! easy!
Deleteand I am very envious of your patience in growing cauliflowers. I don't have patience for anything that takes for-ehhhhhhhver to grow, with just one 'crop'. but I do adore caulis! so I can't wait to hear of your success M - in a few months' time... ;-)
I just had cauliflower cheese soup for lunch! You don't have to sell this to me :) Caulifower is my favourite vegetable, it's so versatile and delicious...especially with cheese! However I have learnt never to grow them again haha.
ReplyDeleteoh jem, is it the takes-too-long thing for you too? I have a smallish vegie patch so I can't take up space with slow things.
Deletebut hang on, cauli cheese SOUP?? wooo...is there no end to the wondrousness of this amazing vegie?!
I'll be right over .. this looks yum! :D
ReplyDeletei'll set another place for you frogpond! :-)
Deletethank you bek! yup, it pretty much is!
ReplyDeleteGosh that looks delicious! I love anything wrapped in pastry (even if my waistline doesn't!) and that would be great even now (UK summer) with a nice crisp green salad on the side. In fact, I have some cauli growing in the garden … Hmmm :o)
ReplyDeleteI think it would definitely be great with a salad in the warmer months, caro - mum and I have already decided zesty spring onions will go in our summer version!
Deleteand a little bit of pastry every now and then ... not so bad, surely :-)
How gorgeous E and so clever to get your mum to write it down. It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteit really was, merryn! I have since made it with half cauli, half parsnip - sneaking even more veg in. it was just as good.
ReplyDelete