Cheesy Cauliflower With Crunchy Panko Crumbs Made Lite Recipe 445

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the cauliflower into even-sized florets, rinse and drain. Microwave in a bowl, with about 1" of water, covered in plastic for 3-5 minutes (depending on your microwave power). Remove the plastic wrap and set aside-- you want the cauliflowers to be slightly crunchy. For the sauce: Melt the butter and olive oil on medium heat. Whisk the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until it becomes very thick. Add the milk and continue whisking-- the sauce should still be very thick. Add the minced garlic. Add the chicken stock, a little at a time, until the sauce is has thinned out enough to be "pourable". Reduce the heat to low and add the grated cheese, stirring until it is completely melted. Add the thyme, then season, carefully, with salt & pepper, mustard and cayenne pepper(if desired). Give the sauce one final taste, and adjust the final seasonings to your preference. For the topping: In a small bowl, drizzle enough olive oil to slightly moisten the panko crumbs (regular bread crumbs are okay, but panko crumbs are much crunchier, and combine with a fork. Set aside. You can also add some additional thyme to the topping if you love that herb! Assembly: Pour the cauliflower into a casserole dish (or individual ramekins). Carefully pour and distribute the cheese sauce, evenly. Sprinkle the panko crumbs on top. Bake at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden and bubbly. You can broil the topping for 1 minute (keep an eye on it) if desired. By using low-fat milk, healthier olive oil and less butter, and reduced-fat cheese, this otherwise very high caloric dish is equally flavorful and we loved this dish!

Steps:

• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 450°F. Toss panko, Parmesan, cheddar, and 2 Tbsp. butter in a medium bowl until combined. Sprinkle evenly onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake on lower rack until cheese is melted and bubbling and panko is deep golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Let cool. Crumble into small pieces; set aside until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, cut cauliflower into 1/2"-thick steaks (it's okay if the outside ends break apart).
• Whisk garlic, thyme, and remaining 1 cup butter in a medium measuring cup.
• Toss half of cauliflower, half of shallots, 1/2 cup butter mixture, 4 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. pepper on a rimmed baking sheet until coated. Repeat with remaining cauliflower, shallots, 1/2 cup butter mixture, 4 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. pepper on another rimmed baking sheet. Roast, tossing veggies and rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through, until tender and browned, 45-55 minutes.
• Let cool slightly. Transfer to a platter. Top with reserved crumble and parsley. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over.
• Do Ahead: Uncrumbled panko mixture can be baked 1 day ahead. Wrap baking sheet with plastic and store at room temperature.