Braised Cauliflower With Capers Toasted Bread Crumbs Recipes

Steps:

• Place cauliflower and a small amount of water in a skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. , In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks and seasonings. Place bread crumbs and cheese in a large bowl. Add a few florets at a time to the egg mixture; toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cauliflower to crumb mixture; toss to coat. , In a skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Cook cauliflower in batches until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Mix bread crumbs, thyme, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper together in a mixing bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and rub it into the bread crumbs with your fingertips.
• Quickly run cauliflower under water to dampen slightly. Roll cauliflower around in the bread crumb mixture until crumbs stick; place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle any excess crumbs over top.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tender and lightly browned, about 12 minutes.

Steps:

• In a small non-stick skillet sauté bread crumbs in 1/2 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until fragrant and transfer to a small bowl.
• In skillet heat remaining tablespoon oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion, stirring, until golden. Add vinegar and cauliflower and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until cauliflower begins to turn golden. Add water and salt to taste and simmer, covered, 10 minutes, or until tender. Sprinkle cauliflower mixture with bread crumbs.

Steps:

• Toasting the bread crumbs: Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread the bread crumbs in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring once or twice with a pancake turner, until the crumbs are the color of pale toast and lightly crunchy, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Trimming the cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into florets, discarding the thick core. Cut into individual florets that are about 1 1/2 inches long and just about as wide. You want them small, but not trimmed so much that they are falling apart.
• Browning the cauliflower: Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet (12-inch) over medium-high heat. When hot, add the florets and saute, turning frequently, until they are speckled allover with nice bits of brown, about 8 minutes total. Add the capers, stir to dis- tribute, and cook for another minute.
• The braise: Pour in the stock or water, season with salt and pepper (go easy on the salt because of the capers), cover tightly, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently until the cauliflower is tender enough to be easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. If the liquid threatens to dry up at any point, add a splash of water.
• The finish: When the cauliflower is tender, remove the lid and boil away any remain- ing liquid, shaking the pan so the cauliflower doesn't stick. Add a squeeze of lemon, and taste for salt and pepper. Stir in the bread crumbs and serve immediately.
• Variation: Penne with Braised Cauliflower & Capers.
• Turn this cauliflower into a meal by boiling up 3/4 pound of short tube-shaped pasta, such as penne, fusilli, or gemelli. When the pasta is al dente, drain it, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking water. In Step 14, don't boil away any remaining liquid. Add the pasta to the cauliflower before adding the bread crumbs, and add enough reserved pasta cooking water to moisten the dish. Drizzle with a bit of extra-virgin olive oil, stir in the bread crumbs, and taste for salt and pepper. A small handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley and some freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese are good finishing touches.