Cavolfiore Stufato Italian Stewed Cauliflower Recipes

CAULIFLOWER SFORMATO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a large pot of lightly salted water over high heat to bring to a boil. Cut the half head of cauliflower into quarters, removing the outer leaves and the tougher part of the stem. With a sharp knife, cut the florets into 1 inch pieces, and slice the center stalk thinly.
• Reserve a packed 3/4 cup of the florets, and add remaining florets and sliced stems to the boiling water. Boil until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a blender. Blend, adding 1/4 cup milk, or as needed, to make a very thick, smooth, puree. Pour into a large bowl, and set aside.
• In a small pot over medium-high heat, heat 1 cup of milk just until steaming. Season with salt to taste. Cover and turn off heat. In a second small pot over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter, and whisk in flour. Cook until thickened, whisking constantly, about 3 minutes. Add hot milk and whisk constantly to make a thick béchamel, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Fold the béchamel into the cauliflower puree. Add eggs, 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, a pinch of nutmeg, and salt to taste. In a small sauté pan over medium-high, heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter, and add 3/4 cup cauliflower florets. Sauté until tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and fold florets into béchamel mixture.
• Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Lightly coat the insides of six four-ounce ramekins with nonstick spray, and fill almost to the top with the flan mixture. Place in a baking dish and add boiling water until it reaches two-thirds up the sides of the ramekins. Cover tightly with a sheet of aluminum foil, and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover, and cook until the centers are firm yet still jiggle a little. Remove ramekins from the water and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to three days.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Meanwhile, allow ramekins to sit at room temperature until no longer chilled. Place in a baking dish and add boiling water until it reaches two-thirds up the sides of the ramekins. Cover tightly with foil, and bake until reheated, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the fonduta sauce.
• In a small pot over low heat, combine the heavy cream and Gorgonzola dolce. Stir until melted and smooth.
• To serve, remove the sformato from the water bath. Run a knife around the inside of a ramekin, and place a small plate on top. Invert, and remove the ramekin. The sformato should unmold effortlessly. Repeat with remaining ramekins. Spoon fonduta sauce over each sformato, and sprinkle the top with a little black pepper and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

STEWED CAULIFLOWER WITH RED ONIONS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the onions. Cook, stirring, until very tender, about eight minutes. Add a pinch of salt and the garlic, and stir for another minute or so until fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes, with their liquid, and bring to a simmer. Simmer about eight minutes until cooked down and fragrant, and add the cauliflower to the pot. Stir together, and add the bay leaf, rosemary, pepper, dissolved tomato paste and wine. Bring to a simmer, and add salt to taste. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer 30 to 40 minutes until the cauliflower is very tender.
• Stir in the olives and vinegar if using, and adjust salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, and stir in the remaining olive oil. Serve hot or warm.

CAVOLFIORE STUFATO (ITALIAN STEWED CAULIFLOWER)

Steps:

• Parboil the cauliflower for five minutes in salted water(or cook in a steamer for ten minutes) then break it into florets.
• Put the garlic and oil into a large pan or flameproof dish, heat through and then add the cauliflower, turning it over gently.
• When it is well softened (about ten minutes) add the puréed tomatoes and then cover. Cook together gently for five minutes so that the flavours combine.
• Taste for salt, remove the garlic and serve hot.