TWICE-BAKED POTATOES WITH CAULIFLOWER AND CHEESE

Twice-Baked Potatoes With Cauliflower and Cheese image

This is a recipe that nods at a lesson taught by the British writer Nigel Slater, which is to poach the cauliflower in bay-leaf scented milk while the potatoes bake. The soft florets are then mashed in with the potato flesh and a healthy splash of the cooked milk. Add butter. Top with cheese.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

4 large baking potatoes, like russets
1 teaspoon olive oil
Kosher salt
1 small head of cauliflower, cut into florets
3 cups milk
2 bay leaves
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Steps:

Preheat oven to 450.
Scrub potatoes under running water; dry them, and rub the skin of each with the oil and a little salt. Pierce the skin of each in three or four places with the tines of a fork.
Place the potatoes in the oven, and roast for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the potatoes, until they offer no resistance when a knife is inserted in their centers.
While the potatoes are baking, put the cauliflower into a saucepan set over medium-high heat, and add the milk and bay leaves. Heat until almost boiling, then reduce flame to low, and simmer until tender, approximately 20 minutes.
When the potatoes are done, remove them from the oven, slice them open down the middle and use a spoon to scrape out their flesh into a bowl. Add the butter, the cauliflower and a healthy splash of the milk, and mash to combine. Spoon the mixture back into the empty jackets, place on a baking sheet and shower with cheese. Return to the oven for approximately 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 643, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 80 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 25 grams, SaturatedFat 16 grams, Sodium 1540 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 0 grams