Make Ahead

Cauliflower Spoon Eggs

by:
October  5, 2010
5
1 Ratings
Cauliflower Spoon Eggs
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 45 minutes
  • Serves 4-6
Author 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 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 —thirschfeld

Test Kitchen 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 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 —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/2 head of cauliflower, steamed until tender and cooled
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
  • 1 cup hot whole milk
  • 3/4 cup Gruyere, grated
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 1 pinch fresh ground white pepper
  • 5 large eggs, seperated, whites whipped until stiff
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Combine the cauliflower and the cream in a food processor and puree until it is as smooth as you an get it.
  3. To make the béchamel 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.
  4. Add the curry, cayenne and nutmeg. Bring it to a boil to thicken it.
  5. In the bowl with the yolks whisk them to combine them. Add a 1/4 cup of the hot béchamel and whisk to temper the eggs. Add the rest of the béchamel and whisk. Add the cauliflower puree and whisk again.
  6. 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.
  7. 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
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12 Reviews

maddyvt
maddyvt November 3, 2013
i want to make this using corn meal instead of flour.... has anybody tried it?
 
lilroseglow
lilroseglow July 20, 2013
I usually like pretty much anything, but I have a strong dislike of curry powder. I like cauliflower so much I thought it might overcome my curry issue. Alas, it did not. All I could taste was curry. Bleech. I might try this again minus the curry powder.
 
Marilyn R.
Marilyn R. May 15, 2013
Looks amazing. Cannot wait to make this! Thank you
 
jstew52
jstew52 June 28, 2012
Made this for dinner last night. Absolutely beautiful.
 
TheWimpyVegetarian
TheWimpyVegetarian October 21, 2010
I've added this to my list of "must make" dishes! Looks really delicious.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice October 12, 2010
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
dymnyno October 6, 2010
I meant to add: This will be perfect as a Thanksgiving side.
 
dymnyno
dymnyno October 6, 2010
Nice recipe...a creative touch of the master of a simple satisfying dish.
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner October 6, 2010
Wow. I'm speechless.
 
theicp
theicp October 6, 2010
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
AntoniaJames October 5, 2010
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)
 
thirschfeld
thirschfeld October 6, 2010
Thanks AJ. This one is totally decadent and rich in the way short ribs can be over the top rich.