Delicious Roasted Whole Cauliflower W/Herbed Cheese Sauce

Think You Don’t Like Cauliflower? Think Again

Cauliflower is one of my all-time favorite vegetables. It’s often overlooked, I think, but really shouldn’t be. It’s incredibly versatile and hearty—this dish can easily be a meal itself. I served it as an appetizer before dinner, and it was a big hit. The cauliflower itself is super-flavorful, from the water bath and then the roasting—and the cheese sauce just really takes it over the top.

This is a great addition to a brunch menu. It’s also good party food—you can cut up the cauliflower into pieces and stick a toothpick in them, and they become delightful finger food. It’s also a great side dish with dinner, and perfect fare for a vegetarian guest.

INGREDIENTS

For the cauliflower:

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 8 cups water
• 2 cups dry white wine
• 6 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp heavy cream
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 bay leaf

For the herbed cheese:

• ½ cup full-flavored cheese, shredded (I used Manchego)
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 Tbsp cream cheese
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 2 Tbsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Make the cauliflower:

1. Preheat oven to 475°.
2. Clean the cauliflower by removing all of the leaves. Rub the cauliflower all over with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and set aside.
3. Put the water in a large pot on the stove, add the remaining ingredients, stir well, then bring to a boil. Add the cauliflower and reduce the heat, allowing it to simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes, or until a knife inserts easily into the center.
4. Remove the cauliflower to a colander and allow to drain. Put the cauliflower on a large roasting sheet, and roast in the oven until browned - turning the sheet occasionally. It should take about 40 minutes.

Make the herbed cheese:

1. Mix the shredded cheese and sour cream together in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for about 1 minute. Use a fork to whisk in the cream cheese, basil and olive oil - then put the cheese mixture in a serving dish.
2. Sprinkle the roasted cauliflower with some sea salt, and serve with the cheese sauce on the side.