JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 18 – OCTOBER 1, 2019

OCTOBER 1, 2019

Hi everybody!

Welcome to Fall, although you wouldn’t know it by the weather, which is about to heat up again. Still, those wonderful cool weather vegetables are arriving, and they are both versatile and delicious.

Today’s recipe is a yummy cauliflower dish, featuring parmesan cheese and capers, those delicious tiny pickled peppers.

 

CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPERS AND PARMESAN

 

 

1  head of cauliflower
  • 5 TBS extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 oz. grated  Parmesan cheese
  • 2 TBS capers, drained and divided
  • 1 lemon

 

DIRECTIONS

1. Set a rack in the lowest position of your oven and preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the cauliflower on a cutting board and snap off the green outer leaves. Use a knife to shave off the end of the stem, which will give you a flat surface for the cauliflower to stand up.

2. Starting from one end, cut the entire head of cauliflower into half-inch slices, letting the pieces fall off. The pieces connected to the root will remain in slabs.

3. Transfer the cauliflower to a sheet pan and drizzle with it with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and then toss with your hands to make sure all the pieces are evenly coated, and then arrange them so their flat surfaces are on the pan.

4. Roast the cauliflower on the bottom rack until the pieces  are brown around the edges with deeply browned undersides, approximately 25–30 minutes.

5. While the cauliflower is roasting, that’s the time to grate the parmesan cheese on the largest side of a box grater. Reserve about half the grated cheese for garnishing.

6. Coarsely chop 1 TBS of capers, then toss all of the capers in a small bowl with the remaining 2 Tbsp. of oil. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice onto the capers.

7. When the cauliflower is browned on the first side, remove the baking sheet from the oven and place it on a work surface. Using a spatula, turn the pieces over. Sprinkle the grated parmean that has not been set aside for garnish over the cauliflower.

8. Return the cauliflower to the oven and continue to roast it until the other side is browned and the parmesan is fragrant and browned,  about 10 to 12 minutes.

9. Let it cool a few minutes, then transfer the cauliflower to a plate  and drizzle lemon-caper dressing over it. Season it with a bit more salt and pepper, then top with the reserved parmesan.

 

NOTE: This dish, like all roasted vegetable dishes, is good hot or cold.

Enjoy.

And have a delicious week!

Best, Judi

 

JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 11 – AUGUST 13, 2019

August 13, 2019

Hi Everybody,

Another week of beautiful bounty. Mid-summer rocks!

Additional broccoli coming this week, and there’s more you can do with broccoli than just steaming or roasting it. Today’s recipe makes a wonderful appetizer  that even kids will eat. It is cheesy, chewy and delicious.

BROCCOLI CHEESE STICKS

INGREDIENTS

3 c. broccoli rice*
1 large egg
1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tsp. freshly chopped parsley
Warmed marinara, for serving
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Microwave riced broccoli for 1 minute to steam. Carefully wring out extra moisture from the broccoli using a paper towel.
2. Transfer the broccoli to a large bowl and add the egg, 1 cup of the mozzarella, the Parmesan, and the garlic. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Transfer this “dough” to the baking sheet and shape it into a thin, oval crust.
3. Bake until it is golden and dried out, about 20 minutes. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and bake until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy, 10 minutes more. Garnish with parsley and pepper flakes, if using.  Cut into “sticks”. Serve warm with the marinara for dipping.
*How to make broccoli “rice”: Pulse the broccoli in a food processor until it resembles rice (you can also grate it on the medium side of a box grater).
I hope you enjoy this yummy appetizer or lunch dish.
Have a delicious week!
Best,
Judi