Try this creamy side from Mark Poiarkoff, executive chef at Vinegar Hill House, for an updated alternative to green bean casserole. Poiarkoff provided the recipe in gram measurements, so time to get out that kitchen scale if you’ve got one. We’ve translated it into cups and tablespoons, but grams will be far more precise.
Serves 8-10 as a sidePrep time: 1 hourCook time: 30 minutesTotal time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients:
3 medium-sized heads of cauliflower with leaves and cores removed
For cheese sauce
85g (6 Tbs) butter
75g (1/3 cup) flour
350g (1 1/2 cups) cream
350g (1 1/2 cups) milk
20 strokes nutmeg
1 pinch black pepper
14g (1 Tbs) salt
25g (2 Tbs) sherry vinegar
275g (10 oz) fresh chevre, crumbled (Capriole recommended)
For breadcrumbs:
17g almonds
7g (two smallish cloves) garlic
10g (about a quarter cup of leaves) parsley
13g (1 Tbs) chili oil
17g ( 4 tsp) olive oil
4g (1 tsp) salt
2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Cut cauliflower into florets and toss lightly in oil and a pinch of salt.
Spread cauliflower out on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake until cauliflower begins to brown (it should not be cooked all the way through).
Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature.
Make cheese sauce
Put milk, cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a small pot on medium heat
Place butter in a medium size pot on low heat until melted
Whisk flour into melted butter and let cook for about 5 minutes. Continually whisk
Pour milk/ cream mixture into butter/ flour mixture
Slowly bring to a boil while constantly whisking (being sure to scrape bottom of pot). Once the mixture has come to a boil, turn down heat to low
Add sherry vinegar and cheese. Mix until cheese is just melted and mixture is smooth
For breadcrumbs
Blend almonds, garlic, parsley, chili oil and olive oil in a food processor or blender until fine
Mix with bread crumbs
Lay out on sheet tray and bake at 325 degrees until golden brown, about 15 minutes
To assemble gratin
In a large bowl, mix cooked cauliflower with cheese sauce
Pour into a buttered 10 x 10 casserole dish
Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 degrees until hot in the center, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately
