After all the calories laden food we had over the last few days, it is good to go for something lighter :p ahem...I was delighted that FFWD recipe for this Friday is Cauliflower-Bacon Gratin...this is considered light compared to those red meat we had the last few days LOL! Cauliflower and bacon plus those lips-smacking cheese and heavy cream.....baked till one's nostril tingles with the aroma of the bacon and spices wafting out of the oven....awwww I have to walk extra miles to burn off the calories that I had been happily tucking in during the festive season .
This gratin can be served as a side dish with a roast or as suggested by Dorie can be served as a brunch, lunch or supper with a salad...the last would be favored by me but I was too lazy to prepare a salad so I took this as brunch without salad. It is like a quiche filling with extra flour and yet taste like a savory pudding with its rich, soft and creamy texture. A classic no doubt !
As usual I followed the instructions to the dot except that I added some dried mixed herbs to the mixture for some flavor. I should have taken Dorie's suggestions to add some curry to it and add in some sauteed onions too for a more exotic taste. I will definitely do that the next time I make this again :) She said we can replace bacon with cubes of ham and pair the cauliflower with its cousin the broccoli . Mixed herbs and thymes would be great for this dish , which I did add in some mixed herbs for extra flavor....it turned out more flavorful * wink yummy good !
I thought it was a bit bland so I decided
to take Dorie's suggestion and added in
some dried mixed herbs.....it was good !
this gratin is best just from the oven or warm but like a
quiche it can be taken at room temperature :)
this is simple and easy to prepare...one dish meal for us :p
especially after a short holidays, I tend to be a bit lazy
and this week FFWD was just great for me LOL!
love the burnt melted cheese on the surface...
and the rich soft and creamy texture ..mmmm
yummy good !
* * *
This sounds amazing and I so like the way you "lighten" things up a bit! I would do the same thing adding the dried herbs...which I do often. The curry sounds good too...good with cauliflower. I love these Friday's with Dorie.
ReplyDeleteThis was certainly a heavy hitter to close out the year with...but definitely worth those extra miles of walking to work it off :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great New Year, Elin!
I've this thing against the cauliflower here. Not as nice and fragrant as the ones in the UK...so I never buy or order when eating out. In the UK, just boi,l add a pinch of salt and eat. So nice, whole house filled with the fragrance.
ReplyDeleteLyndsey...yea, I love cooking along with the other Doristas :) can compare notes :) Happy New Year to you !
ReplyDeleteCher...yea, but worth it ! It is delish with the mixed spices added to it :)
Arthur...yea...Jo told me the same thing...after eating those cauliflower and broccoli from UK , you never want to eat those grown here and China :p
Kathy....Happy New Year to you and hubby and Joshua too!
I think I really have to get the cookbook. The gratin looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Angie
Looks great! I thought this was more like a quiche too and also a bit bland. Great idea to add some herbs to up the flavor!
ReplyDeleteMixed herbs sound like great additions to give it even more flavor. Your gratin browned so nicely. Have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThis was good wasn't it? Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLooks good! We liked it, too!
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous New Year!
Looks so good! I'm with you on the extra walking this time of year, I think I need to walk all day and night to burn all the extra calories I've consumed these past few weeks!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you photographed the open book with the gratin, I'll have to remember to do that next time. Happy New Year ;-)
I thought this was great. Some herbs sound like a nice idea too! Great that you enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!
Very nice pictures--it's a photogenic dish, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWow - yours looks amazing. Love love the color you got on this one. Since we have made it enough ourselves, I know from the photos just how yummy your dish turned out ! Had to chuckle because we noted some folks calling this comfort food (which it is) but compared to the creme brulee and everything else we have been eating- this is positively health food to us. Happiest of New Years !
ReplyDeleteYours looks delicious! And I also loved the bubbling cheese crust. Great post!
ReplyDelete"Mr Leaf" (hubbs) loves cauliflower & sometimes I make cauliflower cheese with is similar to your gratin. I make it as a side dish to go along something like a grilled chicken leg - easy cooking for sometimes when I'm too lazy to make anything complicated!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I didn't know cauli & broc was tastier over here???
I would walk miles to work off this one. It's such a treat to eat, despite how rich it is. Your gratin looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year 2012!
Your gratin looks fabulous, and it is a perfect meal on its own. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2012 to you and family. :)
ReplyDeleteElin, Thank you for all wonderful sharing, wishing you a blessed New Year 2012.
ReplyDeleteI love your crispy topping and the addition of herbs! Here's to many more French Fridays in 2012! Wishing you much health, happiness and deliciousness~
ReplyDeleteMmmmm...I should have browned my cheese a little more. Yours looks great!
ReplyDeleteI agree, it was nice to have a simple recipe for the last one of the year - it's such a busy time. Yours came out beautifully. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely worth a power walk or 10. Your cauliflower has such an amazing color to it - golden, caramel. The cheese looks ooey and gooey too!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, looking forward to your cooking experiences in 2012!
Yours looks beautiful and I love the dish you baked it in.
ReplyDeleteHave a very Happy New Year!
I think most of us loved this gratin and the "idea" of the gratin with something other than potatoes. I am looking forward to our Dorista journey in the year ahead. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Doristas for coming over to take a look at my gratin. Your kind words are encouragement to me. I am glad I joined FFWD and cook along with all of you :) Looking forward to more cook along with you guys in 2012. Sharing and comparing notes helps me to greater improvement!
ReplyDeleteHappy New year. Great to add mixed herbs to it. A great idea for the next time, because in our house there is definitely coming a next time for this dish. Your dish looks great.
ReplyDelete"love the burnt melted cheese on the surface..."? It's not often people enjoy eating burnt food. Unless you make it yourself I suppose.
ReplyDelete