Best Winter Minestrone With Cauliflower And Cabbage Recipes

THE RIVER CAFE'S WINTER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and slowly fry the carrots, onion and celery until soft and dark. This will take about 20 minutes but it's worth it - the slow cooking gives a lovely taste. Add the garlic, chard stalks and half the parsley, and stir to prevent sticking. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes or until reduced.
• Add half the Swiss chard leaves, half the cavolo nero, three-quarters of the beans, and the boiling stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Pour in more stock if needed - don't add too much - it should be thick.
• Add the remaining Swiss chard and cavolo nero and blanch briefly so they remain green and crisp. Season when slightly cooled.
• Purée the remaining cannellini beans coarsely in a blender with some of the cooking liquid. Add to the soup - it should be very green. Stir in the herbs and serve hot with Parmesan and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Cut the cauliflower into chunks and the cabbage into large pieces. Boil both in the measured, salted water for about 2 minutes. Drain over a bowl, reserving the cooking liquid.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.
• Melt the 50g (3½ tbsp) butter in a saucepan over a medium-low heat and stir in the flour, mixing it into a smooth roux. Now start adding the reserved vegetable cooking water, little by little, stirring after each addition until all the lumps have gone, then add the milk in the same way. When it has all been added, season with salt, pepper and the nutmeg.
• Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool a little. Then add the egg yolks and stir again. Fold in the cauliflower and cabbage.
• In a separate, scrupulously clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff, then fold into the cauliflower mixture and season once more with salt and pepper.
• Butter a large ovenproof dish or cake tin with the 1 tsp of butter and sprinkle the buttered inside evenly with some of the breadcrumbs. Spoon in the cauliflower mixture, cover with the remaining breadcrumbs, then place small dots of butter evenly on top.
• Bake for 45 minutes, then serve.

WINTER MINESTRONE WITH CAULIFLOWER AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in large soup pot over medium- high heat. Add the bacon/ pancetta, onion and sauté until the bacon/ pancetta is browned, about 2-3 minutes.
• 2. Add the tomatoes, parsley, basil, basil and stock. If using, add knuckle of beef. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to very slow but steady simmer. Cook , covered, for 1 1/2 hours, uncovering every 20 to 30 minutes to stir.
• 3. Add beans, potatoes, carrots, celery and cabbage. Cook covered 30 minutes more.
• 4. Add cauliflower, rice/barley, fresh peasand cook, covered until vegetables are tender, 20 minutes. If using frozen peas, do not add them until last 5 minutes of cooking. Season with salt and pepper
• 5. Turn off heat and allow soup to mellow, anout 15 minutes. Stir in half the grated cheese, then ladelphia soup into warmed bowls and serve, pass remaining cheese.
• 6. If using beef knuckle, shred witf fork and add to soup