CAULIFLOWER PUREE WITH CHESTNUTS

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Cauliflower Puree with Chestnuts image

Over the years, I have noticed many Thanksgiving meals feature cauliflower as a side. This particular preparation feels perfectly festive for the holiday, and the turmeric adds some nice color to the white vegetable.

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 1/2 pounds cauliflower
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 small dried red chile, broken in half
1 cup thinly sliced shallot
1/4 cup thinly sliced garlic
Scant 1/4 cup thinly sliced peeled ginger
Scant 1/4 cup thinly sliced mild to moderately hot fresh green chile
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 scant cup diced plum tomato
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup vegetable stock, chicken stock, or water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons thinly sliced peeled ginger
1/4 pound bottled roasted whole chestnuts, halved crosswise and sliced (about 10)
Kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped chives
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Steps:

  • Break the cauliflower into large florets. Trim off and discard the tough outer layer of the core, then cut the tender inside into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
  • Heat the oil in a heavy 6-quart pan over moderate heat until it shimmers. Add the cumin seeds and dried red chile and cook, shaking the pan, for 1 minute. Add the shallot, garlic, ginger, and fresh green chile and cook, stirring for 30 seconds. Stir in the turmeric, tomato and salt to taste.
  • Stir in the cauliflower and stock and cover the pan. Simmer gently until the cauliflower is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (It's important that the cauliflower cook slowly; otherwise, the liquid will evaporate too quickly, you'll have to add more, and the cauliflower will turn soggy.)
  • Puree the cauliflower mixture in a food processor in 2 batches until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Melt the butter in a 10-inch skillet over high heat and saute the ginger for 30 seconds.
  • Add the chestnuts, stirring and shaking the skillet, and season with salt. Saute the ginger and chestnuts until golden and caramelized and a little crisp around the edges, about 2 minutes. Transfer the ginger and chestnuts to paper towels to drain.
  • Reheat the puree over low heat and stir in the chives and cilantro. Serve the puree topped with the sauteed ginger and chestnuts.

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