Recipe

Cauliflower Spoon Eggs

Community Pick!

Recipe
1 Question

Photo by thirschfeld

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Cauliflower Recipe
A&M's Testing Notes: This is the stuff that food fantasies are made of. The creamy, dense pudding-like soufflé suspends the cauliflower puree, which is bound on top by a thin layer of gruyere. The flavors of the...
This is the stuff that food fantasies are made of. The creamy, dense pudding-like soufflé suspends the cauliflower puree, which is bound on top by a thin layer of gruyere. The flavors of the cauliflower, cream, eggs, and cheese are well-balanced, and the spices are distinct enough that you taste them, yet light-handed enough that they keep in the background. Nutmeg goes very nicely with curry, cayenne, and white pepper. The kosher salt and white pepper could be added to taste with the other spices to the béchamel, or sprinkled on the top with the cheese. - SallyCan

Expand Collapse
Chef
thirschfeld's Notes: Breakfast for dinner, you bet ya. I remember as a child watching Graham Kerr make omelets. I got a chance to see him do it again once I had learned to cook. It was like PBS classics or...
Breakfast for dinner, you bet ya. I remember as a child watching Graham Kerr make omelets. I got a chance to see him do it again once I had learned to cook. It was like PBS classics or something. Never the less I made the omelet. I didn't really like it. I did like the idea of what he did though. I also really like Kaiserschmarrn, the Viennese dessert pancake. I make David Bouley's version at Christmas and just love it. This is some weird combination of the above that just works, it is souffle but not souffle. I think it is best with really crusty bread and nothing else. It is almost a course to itself. - thirschfeld

Expand Collapse

Serves 4-6

1/2 head of cauliflower, steamed until tender and cooled Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 cup heavy cream Ask a question about this ingredient

3 tablespoons all purpose flour Ask a question about this ingredient

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup hot whole milk Ask a question about this ingredient

3/4 cups gruyere grated Ask a question about this ingredient

pinch of nutmeg Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 teaspoon curry powder Ask a question about this ingredient

1/8 teaspoon cayenne Ask a question about this ingredient

kosher salt Ask a question about this ingredient

fresh ground white pepper Ask a question about this ingredient

5 large eggs, seperated, whites whipped until stiff Ask a question about this ingredient

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Ask a question about this step
Combine the cauliflower and the cream in a food processor and puree until it is as smooth as you an get it.
Ask a question about this step
To make the bechemel sauce place a sauce pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the flour and continually stir until you have a paste. Keep stirring so it doesn't brown. Once it smells like popcorn add the hot milk while whisking. Be careful it can splatter violently so make sure the milk is very hot.
Ask a question about this step
Add the curry, cayenne and nutmeg. Bring it to a boil to thicken it.
Ask a question about this step
In the bowl with the yolks whisk them to combine them. Add a 1/4 cup of the hot bechemel and whisk to temper the eggs. Add the rest of the bechemel and whisk. Add the cauliflower puree and whisk again.
Ask a question about this step
Add 1/2 a cup of the gruyere and stir until it is melted. Add a third of the stiff egg whites and fold them into the batter. Add the rest and fold them in until you see no streaks of whites.
Ask a question about this step
Butter a 8 inch enameled or non-stick skillet. Add the batter, top with the remaining cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the top is browned and it is set in the middle. Serve immediately
Ask a question about this step

8 Comments on Cauliflower Spoon Eggs

ChezSuzanne added about 1 year ago

I've added this to my list of "must make" dishes! Looks really delicious.

fiveandspice added about 1 year ago

I - kind of strangely - really enjoy cauliflower with eggs. This looks like the combination in it's ultimate form. Cauliflower bechamel and eggs? Yes please!

dymnyno added about 1 year ago

I meant to add: This will be perfect as a Thanksgiving side.

dymnyno added about 1 year ago

Nice recipe...a creative touch of the master of a simple satisfying dish.

lastnightsdinner added about 1 year ago

Wow. I'm speechless.

The Internet Cooking Princess added about 1 year ago

I'm considering faking sick at work so I can go home and make this right now. (This would also make for an awesome brunch.)

AntoniaJames added about 1 year ago

Cauliflower and cheese, at its best. I could definitely see making this for dinner and if by chance a miracle happened, and there were any leftover, eating it very happily for breakfast. Saved!! ;o)