Best Braised Cauliflower With Capers Toasted Bread Crumbs Recipes

BRAISED CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPERS & TOASTED 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.

SAUTEED CAULIFLOWER WITH BREAD CRUMBS, PARSLEY, CAPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Place a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Add two tablespoons olive oil. When it shimmers, add half the cauliflower, spreading it out so pieces are tightly packed but lay flat in pan. Season with salt. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned on bottom and softening at edges. Turn pieces and brown other side. When just tender remove to a shallow serving bowl. Return pan to heat and repeat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and remaining cauliflower.
• Return pan to heat again. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil. Add bread and coriander and toss to coat in oil. When bread is lightly browned on edges, stir in anchovy paste. Pour this over cauliflower. Add parsley, olives and capers. Sprinkle vinegar on top. Season generously with black pepper and toss well. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper or vinegar, as desired. Serve warm or at room temperature. For a main course, cauliflower may be tossed with pasta, a little oil and some pasta cooking water.

BRAISED CAULIFLOWER WITH BACON

Steps:

• Remove stem from cauliflower (but you can keep the leaves, if any -- they're delicious!).
• Sauté garlic and bacon in olive oil in a large heavy pot until lightly browned. Add onions and continue to sauté until onions are softened.
• Add cauliflower stem-side down. Pour tomatoes over and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer on low for about an hour or until done (will depend on size of cauliflower -- mine took about 70 minutes).
• Remove cauliflower, bring sauce to simmer and let reduce for a little while, then pour over cauliflower and serve.