I think my magazine buying is a bit out of control. The pile on my lamp table was too high to see over (and Miss Pittipat, my beautiful tortoise shell cat, likes to leap off tall buildings and send things flying), so it was time to clip recipes. Among the rather large pile of clippings was this gem from the March issue of Cooking Light. Since Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are favorite veggies in the Food of Love kitchen, this was a great place to start.
Yield: 8 servings
4 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 pound)
4 cups trimmed quartered Brussels sprouts (about 1 3/4 pound)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups 1% lowfat milk
2/3 cup half and half (I used lowfat half and half)
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg
4 slices center cut bacon, chopped
2 cups Vidalia onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
cooking spray
1/2 cup (2 oz) grated Parmigiano cheese
1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cook the cauliflower and sprouts in boiling water 2-4 minutes, then drain.
Combine flour, milk, half and half, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until it begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly (3-4 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in the vegetables.
Coat an 11 X 7 inch broiler-safe dish with cooking spray and spoon in the mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Remove foil.
Preheat broiler to high. Combine cheese and Panko and sprinkle evenly over vegetables. Broil 5 inches from heat for 3-4 minutes, until browned. Let stand a few minutes before serving.
N.I. 148 cal; 5.2 g fat; 18.3 g carb; 8.7 g protein; 3.8 g fiber
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TASTE NOTES
Because we like eating our veggies fresh, I cut this recipe in half and still had leftovers. Despite a longish list of ingredients, this side dish went together very quickly and was the perfect accompaniment to a store-roasted chicken. Because oven temperatures vary so widely, be sure that your veggies are bubbling before you add the topping. This was a satisfying side dish, so much so that no starch was needed or missed. Because Brussels sprouts have been in storage for a while, the next time I make this gratin, I will use just cauliflower or cauliflower and broccoli.
I simply adore brussel sprouts au gratin is a genius idea and these look like a must try!
ReplyDeleteOh Arlene - I love brussel sprouts and I have been in a "gratin" sort of mood lately (two last week!). This is perfec t.
ReplyDeleteI love the combination of the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower and the gratin makes it all the better--not to mention it is from Cooking Light. I am going to have to tab this one to make--if I can find the issue in my out of control magazine stacks! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post because I also have the same stacks of magazines and books beside my couch. We don't have a cat, but the kids try to go surfing on my books and the books end up being scattered all over the floor. Oh well, good times.
ReplyDeleteThis is a recipe that I know I would enjoy. I've never had brussels sprouts mixed with cauliflower before, but I think it's a genius idea. Love it!