Braised Cauliflower With Capers Toasted Bread Crumbs Recipes

BRAISED CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPERS & TOASTED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Toasting the bread crumbs: Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread the bread crumbs in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring once or twice with a pancake turner, until the crumbs are the color of pale toast and lightly crunchy, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Trimming the cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into florets, discarding the thick core. Cut into individual florets that are about 1 1/2 inches long and just about as wide. You want them small, but not trimmed so much that they are falling apart.
• Browning the cauliflower: Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet (12-inch) over medium-high heat. When hot, add the florets and saute, turning frequently, until they are speckled allover with nice bits of brown, about 8 minutes total. Add the capers, stir to dis- tribute, and cook for another minute.
• The braise: Pour in the stock or water, season with salt and pepper (go easy on the salt because of the capers), cover tightly, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently until the cauliflower is tender enough to be easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. If the liquid threatens to dry up at any point, add a splash of water.
• The finish: When the cauliflower is tender, remove the lid and boil away any remain- ing liquid, shaking the pan so the cauliflower doesn't stick. Add a squeeze of lemon, and taste for salt and pepper. Stir in the bread crumbs and serve immediately.
• Variation: Penne with Braised Cauliflower & Capers.
• Turn this cauliflower into a meal by boiling up 3/4 pound of short tube-shaped pasta, such as penne, fusilli, or gemelli. When the pasta is al dente, drain it, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking water. In Step 14, don't boil away any remaining liquid. Add the pasta to the cauliflower before adding the bread crumbs, and add enough reserved pasta cooking water to moisten the dish. Drizzle with a bit of extra-virgin olive oil, stir in the bread crumbs, and taste for salt and pepper. A small handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley and some freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese are good finishing touches.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH CRISPY CAPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the cauliflower in a large bowl with 1/3 cup oil and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper until well coated. Spread out onto 2 rimmed baking sheets. Roast until tender, stirring once or twice, about 30 minutes.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the capers and cook just until they burst and crisp, about 1 minute. Evenly pour over the cauliflower, add the parsley and toss to coat. Season with additional salt and pepper.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH BROWN BUTTER BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Toss the cauliflower, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on a baking sheet with the melted butter until well coated. Reserve the skillet. Roast the cauliflower until tender and it begins to brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 teaspoon salt in the reserved small skillet over medium heat until brown. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring until crisp, about 1 minute. Season the crumbs with a pinch of salt. Sprinkle the cauliflower with the toasted breadcrumbs and the parsley.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH HERBED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Mix bread crumbs, thyme, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper together in a mixing bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and rub it into the bread crumbs with your fingertips.
• Quickly run cauliflower under water to dampen slightly. Roll cauliflower around in the bread crumb mixture until crumbs stick; place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle any excess crumbs over top.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tender and lightly browned, about 12 minutes.

SAUTEED CAULIFLOWER WITH BREAD CRUMBS, PARSLEY, CAPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Place a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Add two tablespoons olive oil. When it shimmers, add half the cauliflower, spreading it out so pieces are tightly packed but lay flat in pan. Season with salt. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned on bottom and softening at edges. Turn pieces and brown other side. When just tender remove to a shallow serving bowl. Return pan to heat and repeat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and remaining cauliflower.
• Return pan to heat again. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil. Add bread and coriander and toss to coat in oil. When bread is lightly browned on edges, stir in anchovy paste. Pour this over cauliflower. Add parsley, olives and capers. Sprinkle vinegar on top. Season generously with black pepper and toss well. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper or vinegar, as desired. Serve warm or at room temperature. For a main course, cauliflower may be tossed with pasta, a little oil and some pasta cooking water.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPER BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Trim off the bottom of the cauliflower stem to create a flat surface. Place cauliflower head onto a cutting board with the stem side facing down; cut the cauliflower vertically into 1 to 1 1/2-inch thick slices. Remove any tough stem pieces. Cut the slices into smaller pieces, about the size of florets. Place on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
• Roast in the oven for 10 minutes; flip pieces over and roast for 10 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, cut butter into 4 pieces. Melt in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until butter begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Butter will foam up, then subside. The butter should have a nutty aroma. Stir in garlic and continue stirring for 15 to 20 seconds. Add in capers and lemon pepper. Remove from heat.
• Spoon brown butter over the roasted cauliflower and serve.

CRISPY CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPERS, RAISINS, AND BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss cauliflower florets with 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl; season mixture with salt and pepper. Divide cauliflower mixture between 2 large rimmed baking sheets, spreading out in a single layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until cauliflower is golden and crispy, about 45 minutes. DO AHEAD: Cauliflower can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Reheat before using.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a small saucepan over medium- low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just golden, 5-6 minutes. Add capers and cook until they start to pop, about 3 minutes longer. Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat. Cook, stirring often, until breadcrumbs are golden, 2-3 minutes; transfer breadcrumb mixture to a plate and set aside.
• Add chicken broth and anchovy paste (if using) to same saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add golden raisins and white wine vinegar and cook until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. DO AHEAD: Breadcrumb and raisin mixtures can be made 2 hours ahead. Rewarm raisin mixture before continuing.
• Transfer warm cauliflower to a serving bowl. Scatter raisin mixture over, then toss to distribute evenly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle cauliflower with breadcrumb mixture and parsley.

CAULIFLOWER WITH BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Remove the leaves from the cauliflower but leave the head whole.
• Steam for about 20 minutes, until easily pierced by a wooden skewer.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan.
• Add the breadcrumbs and cook until golden brown. Be careful not to burn!
• Place the cauliflower on a serving dish.
• Spread the sour cream all over the cauliflower.
• Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the top.
• Enjoy!

CAULIFLOWER WITH TOASTED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• In a small non-stick skillet sauté bread crumbs in 1/2 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until fragrant and transfer to a small bowl.
• In skillet heat remaining tablespoon oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion, stirring, until golden. Add vinegar and cauliflower and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until cauliflower begins to turn golden. Add water and salt to taste and simmer, covered, 10 minutes, or until tender. Sprinkle cauliflower mixture with bread crumbs.

CAULIFLOWER WITH ALMONDS, CAPERS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut cauliflower from top to bottom in 1-inch slices. Place a large ovenproof skillet over low heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. When it has melted, add bread crumbs and toss until toasted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer crumbs to a plate and wipe out pan.
• Return pan to medium heat and add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add almonds and toss until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer almonds to a plate, let cool, and cut each almond into three pieces; set aside.
• Wipe out pan and return to medium heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and cauliflower slices. Sauté until lightly browned on both sides. Transfer pan to oven and roast until tender, about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, melt remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter and add raisins, vinegar and 1 tablespoon water. Simmer until raisins are plump and soft, about 5 minutes; drain and set aside. In a small bowl, combine almonds, capers, raisins, parsley, tarragon and chives. Season with salt and pepper and toss to mix.
• Arrange roasted cauliflower on a serving platter. Spoon almond-herb mixture evenly on top and sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs. Serve immediately.