from Greedy Girl
A bake fit for queens, veggies and vixens. Cauliflower smothered in garlicky tomato love and a silky mustardy pecorino cream, this beauty is bold, elegant and unapologetically lush. Serve it as a dazzling veggie main or the ultimate side for your Sunday roast. Who needs meat when you’ve got sauce, spice and swagger? Here’s to flavour, fun and feeding your soul – one golden bubble at a time.
SERVES 4-6
FOR THE CAULIFLOWER
2 medium or 1 large head cauliflower
¾ cup grated cheddar or mozzarella cheese
½ cup panko or fresh breadcrumbs
fresh basil leaves and roasted pine nuts to garnish
QUICK TANGY TOMATO SAUCE
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely grated
1 tsp dried origanum
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 x 400 g can chopped tomatoes
¾ tsp white sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
a splash of red wine vinegar or lemon juice
a handful of mixed chopped fresh parsley and basil
PECORINO CREAM
1 medium onion, halved
4 whole cloves
2 cups full-cream milk
1 fresh bay leaf
50 g butter
50 g cake wheat flour
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp Dijon or hot English mustard
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
120 g pecorino cheese, grated
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary (optional, but divine)
BLANCH THE CAULIFLOWER
1 Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
2 Trim each cauliflower’s base so that it sits flat.
3 Place the cauliflower in the saucepan and simmer gently for 10–12 minutes until tender but still holding its shape.
4 Drain well and nestle into a greased ovenproof dish.
COOK THE TOMATO SAUCE
5 Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, then stir in the origanum, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper.
6 Simmer for 10–15 minutes until thick and saucy.
7 Finish with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice, then stir in the fresh herbs.
MAKE THE PECORINO CREAM
8 Stud each onion half with two cloves and place in a saucepan with the milk and bay leaf.
9 Gently bring to a simmer, then switch off the heat and leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Strain just before using.
10 In another pan, melt the butter, then stir in the flour to make a roux, cooking gently for 2 minutes.
11 Gradually whisk in the strained warm milk until smooth and luscious. Cook for 5–10 minutes until thickened, stirring continuously.
12 Season with the nutmeg, mustard, salt and pepper, then stir in the pecorino and rosemary (if using) until the cheese is melted.
ASSEMBLE THE BAKE
13 Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
14 Pour all the tangy tomato sauce over the cauliflower in the dish, smother with the full batch of pecorino cream, and scatter the grated cheese and breadcrumbs over the top for that golden crust.
15 Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbling and gorgeously golden.
16 Serve hot and melty, garnished with fresh basil and roasted pine nuts, with something crisp and green on the side, or just a fork and your best intentions.
Recipe extracted from Greedy Girl by Jenny Morris, out now.
