I had a head of cauliflower in my fridge and decided to turn it into a cheesy, crisp, easy vegetarian dinner. I cooked the cauliflower in the microwave, mashed it and added the other ingredients. I finished the dish under the broiler and dinner was ready in 10 minutes.
A Tomato Onion Salad completes the meal.
HELPFUL HINTS:
The cauliflower can be boiled in a pot of water instead of cooking it in the microwave oven.
To shorten preparation, buy chopped fresh onion in the produce section of the market.
You can serve a washed-ready-to-eat green salad instead of the Tomato Onion Salad.
COUNTDOWN:
Prepare all the ingredients.
Microwave cauliflower.
Preheat the broiler.
Make salad while cauliflower is cooking in the microwave.
SHOPPING LIST:
To buy: 1 head cauliflower, 1 bottle reduced-fat mayonnaise, 1 jar Dijon mustard, 1 container minced garlic, 1 bunch scallions, washed, ready-to-eat Romaine lettuce, 1 medium tomato, 1 red onion (or chopped onion from market), 1 bag reduced fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1 container plain panko bread crumbs, 1 bottle reduced fat oil and vinegar dressing and 1 can vegetable oil spray.
Staples: egg, salt and black peppercorns.
Cauliflower Cheese Bake
Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer
Yield 2 servings
1 head cauliflower 5 cups (1 pound)
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced garlic
4 chopped scallions, about 1/2 cup
1 egg
1 cup reduced fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided use
1 cup panko bread crumbs on top, divided use
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil spray
Cut cauliflower into florets about 1-to-2 inches and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a plate or plastic wrap and microwave on high for 6 to 7 minutes until florets are fork soft. Remove and mash cauliflower with a fork. It should be a little like lumpy potatoes. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, scallions and egg. Mix well. Add 1/2 cup cheese, 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Preheat broiler. Spray a 10-by-8 casserole with vegetable oil spray. Spoon the cauliflower mixture into the dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup bread crumbs on top. Place under the broiler 6 inches from heat for 30 seconds. The crumbs should be golden. Watch to make sure the bread crumbs do not burn. Remove from the broiler and add the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the top of the bread crumbs. Place under the broiler for 1 minute or until the cheese melts. Remove and serve on two dinner plates.
