Thursday, August 5, 2010

Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a quick and delicious dish that I stumbled on while looking for new ways to cook broccoli and cauliflower. The recipe was developed by Laura Chenel for Food and Wine magazine. There tends to be a sameness to recipes that are written for the more strongly flavored vegetables. This one is a delightful departure from the norm. While I love the recipe as it is written, I would suggest you omit the broccoli and double the the amount of cauliflower the recipe calls for. I think the mix of ingredients is better suited to cauliflower and it makes for a much prettier dish than when the two are combined. I promise I'll give broccoli equal time at a later date. I love it, just not in this particular dish. This gratin is strongly flavored and is probably best served with plain grilled chicken or meat, though I must say I liked this enough to have the leftovers for my breakfast the last time I made it. "Gratin" is one of those culinary oddities that identifies a pan in which to cook, as well as a method of cooking. The pan is a shallow vessel that is used to hold a mixture that is topped with breadcrumbs and cheese and quickly broiled or flashed to produce a crunchy crust. They are usually easy to prepare, high in calories and absolutely delicious. This one is no exception, though it healthier than most. This is a really nice, serviceable recipe that you'll use over and over again once you've tried it. I hope that will be soon. Here's the recipe.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Laura Chenel

Ingredients:
4 cups broccoli florets (from 2 small heads)
4 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 small head)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely shredded (2 cups)
1/4 cup pitted oil-cured green or black olives, coarsely chopped
1 cup coarse plain dry bread crumbs
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 2-inch-deep 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil, add broccoli and cauliflower and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
2) In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over moderate heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook just until fragrant. Remove pan from burner. Add broccoli and cauliflower and toss. Toss olives and half of cheese with vegetables. Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
3) In a small bowl, toss crumbs with remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle crumbs over cheese. Bake in upper third of oven for about 12 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and crumbs are golden. Serve hot. Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Spring Vegetable Ragout - One Perfect Bite
Summer Vegetable Gratin - Delicious Dishings
Winter Root Vegetable Gratin - Playing House
Vegetable Au Gratin - eCurry
Root Vegetable Gratin - The Bitten Word
Summer Vegetable Gratin - Erin Cooks

64 comments :

Lyndas recipe box said...

I'm loving this gratin Mary. It sounds easy and looks delicious. What more could I want! Thanks for posting-have a wonderful week!

Joanne said...

This is probably one of the few ways I could get my dad to eat veggies! I love the luscious ingredients.

Taylor said...

I am always looking for new ways to prepare veggies...especially broccoli! This looks delicious.

Claudia said...

A thousand times yes.I don't need to add the fat and cheese but I like to.

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Mary, you are inspired me on every dish that you prepared, includes this one, nice to know you via blogging.

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

I love both vegetables but my husband does not care for cauliflour. This might sell him though. WIth the second vegetable and all that flavor, it just might work.

This is a "must try".

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

I love both vegetables too, so I am certain I'd love it either way!

Sanjeeta kk said...

Thanks for dropping by Marry. Lovely to find your blog, like the presentation and the recipes here. Following you for more of such delicacies. Best wishes, take care.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Oh, this looks very good!! I love both broccoli and cauliflower, and the cheese is just a bonus.

J e l e n a said...

yes gratinis are a great way to get people who othewise wouldn't eat vegetables to try some..

Jeannie said...

Agreed with jelena, this will get my boys to eat their vegetables! Looks delicious!

penny aka jeroxie said...

Cheese makes everything better!

Diane said...

One of my favourite dishes, I must try your variation. Have a good day. Diane

Bits said...

This is so easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing Mary!

Unknown said...

Mary, I agree with you. I think the recipe works better with just cauliflower. I just know when a recipe is called 'gratin' I'll like it. Cheese, breadcrumbs and sometimes a little or a lot of cream... yum.
Have a great day. Michael.

Koek! said...

oh YES! this is just the kind of dish I adore... Thanks for another fabulous recipe x

Sushma Mallya said...

Liked the golden brown and crispy texture on top of it, a great recipe and a filling dish...

From the Kitchen said...

This sounds like an excellent dish to accompany a simple roast--or to have for breakfast = ). I'd like to also thank you for the Shrimp Enchiladas Verde recipe that I found at the end of your post. It will fill in a meal for us when our son visits. He'll be working from our home for a about ten days and I want to make sure he is happy in my "cafeteria".

Best,
Bonnie

Red Nomad OZ said...

Hi Mary! With any luck, the broccoli and cauliflower we planted before leaving on our current trip will be waiting for me when I return - look forward to using them in this dish then! Thanx, Marion

cocoa and coconut said...

Gratin is so delicious; and your combination of ingredients would make it 'top notch.'

Martha said...

I have a head of cauliflower in the fridge and this might go with dinner tonight -- sounds lovely and I do love gratins.

CaSaundraLeigh said...

This would be a perfect side dish that would pair well with a variety of main dishes! I am always looking for new ways to incorporate broccoli as well...it's so good for you!

Unknown said...

Mary, you would make my mom proud...I am not a huge fan of broccoli or cauliflower, but your dish looks so wonderful I would be willing to give them both another shot!

Diet Essential Nutrients said...

Looks good! I think I agree that I would only use the cauliflower too, just seems to fit the recipe. Thanks for something new to try.

Diet Essential Nutrients said...

Looks good! I think I agree that I would only use the cauliflower too, just seems to fit the recipe. Thanks for something new to try.

nancy at good food matters said...

Mary, I think you are wise to make this recipe with the cauliflower alone---the strong flavors from the olives meld with it better solo, rather than complicated by the broccoli. Gratins are wonderful ways to enjoy our veggies!

Bakericious said...

Mary I like this dish and seem easy to prepare too, thanks for sharing

Jennifer said...

What a splendid idea, never occured to me to mix the two!

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

What a very different flavor combination. I like them both but probably would have to omit the olives since I don't care for them. Otherwise it looks delicious :o)

Rita said...

I know this will hit the spot at our house; great recipe.
Looks wonderful!
Rita

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I don't dare turn on the oven in this heat, but once it cools, this is on my list.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

That sounds tasty AND nutritious! Thanks for a great recipe! ♥

StephenC said...

My very first thought upon reading your recipe's title was: ditch the broccoli, go with cauliflower. And I love a good gratin!

PeggyR said...

That sounds very yummy and broccoli is so good for you!

Cathy said...

I'll take your advice and use all cauliflower, Mary. Your recipe has a lot more going on than the one I've been using and I look forward to trying it.

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

healthy n colorful gratin mary...yummy yum n delicious...

Pam said...

It looks delicious! Love both veggies and you did this well. You need to write a cookbook if you haven't already, Mary!

The Blonde Duck said...

I'll eat any veggie with cheese.

Brad said...

Hi Mary,

A receipe like this one is probably the only way one could get me to eat my veggies.

Congrats, you made two loathed vegatables look appealing!

Velva said...

I can see where this gratin would be a good idea to allow cauliflower to take front center stage. Awesome recipe.

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

I love both veggies, but I do think I would prefer them separately. Gratins are always so tasty. Thanks for sharing.

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

I have a bunch of broccoli and I have no idea what to do with it. This gratin looks good. Maybe I'll omit the cauliflower and just use broccoli.

Eliana said...

Looks so cheesy and delicious :) Who wouldn't want to eat their veggies this way.

DailyChef said...

Looks like a delicious, healthy dish! Really liking the variation to my normal way of getting my veggies in.

Anonymous said...

That crust is darn near perfect! Great recipe...again! Mary have a wonderful day!

Cooking Creation said...

My sister-in-law makes a recipe similar to this. She doesn't use red pepper flakes but I bet that makes a HUGE difference. I'm going to try this one! YUM!

Adelina said...

interesting indeed- , how I love the look of those bread crumbs crowning up the dish! The crunch must be heavenly!

Patti said...

Well, I will definitely be trying this. It sounds totally delish!!

And I'll take your recommendation and use all cauliflower. I already have tons of recipes for broccoli anyhow, and very few for cauliflower.

As always, thank you.

Blessings,
Patti

Katerina said...

I love both vegetables although I must admit that during my younger years I detested both. Now that ages add to my back I tend to appreciate things that sounded boring or repellent in the past. This gratin looks absolutely satisfying.

Gloria Baker said...

Mary I loe gratins and this cauliflower gratin look spectacular and yummy, hae a nice day, xx gloria

nanny said...

It sounds wonderful! I just wish my husband liked dishes like this....I'll have to wait and make it for my daughters! Yum!

Ana Powell said...

So wonderful and full of energy.
Another winner ♥

RamblingTart said...

Oh Mary, this looks absolutely heavenly! That crispy cheese crust just melts my heart. :-)

Annie said...

This probably is the best way to serve couliflower. It's delicious.

Have a nice day

Julie M. said...

This looks like a perfect gratin mary! I'm not a big fan of olives, so I might omit those (I know, I'm crazy), but other than that, I'd happily eat a big bowl of this.

The Red Umbrella said...

I've got to try this!

A SPICY PERSPECTIVE said...

Who doesn't love broccoli and cheese?! It is so comforting!

3 hungry tummies said...

Great way of cooking these vegetables. I think children will be very happy to eat this too :)

scrambledhenfruit said...

I like leftovers for breakfast too, especially if they're this tasty! I love cauliflower and it's nice to have a new way to prepare it.

Lori said...

I certainly would not be opposed to all cauliflower. I will have to give this one a go in the fall! Thanks Mary.

Unknown said...

that looks delicious!!! something I would definitely make...thanks for sharing Mary

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

Great flavor combo.

Carmen

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

wonderful gratin with crust and sounds interesting with veggies

FusionGrafx said...

This sounds so lovely, with or without the broccoli! I do believe I'll try it the way you suggested though, as that just sounds delicious to me.

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