CAUILFLOWER AU GRATAIN

Hi folks, we had some nice and springy days, but today the weather in Spain changed again, a popular sayng tells us that until 40th of May, don`t take your winter under wear away, "Hasta el 40 de mayo, no te quites el sayo" Wise words, in spansih called "refranes", several books have been written, there are so many, and all of them has a bit of truth, and they are learnt from fathers and mothers to sons and daughters.

Since the summer food really don`t fit yet, I made a graitinated, conforting, cheeasy caulilflower dish you may enjoy:

The shoppinglist follows for 4 pers:

1 large cauliflower                                  (coliflor grande)

6 slices of bacon                                    (bacon)

400 cl. of milk                                        ( leche)

200 gr grated cheese                              (queso rallado)

4 tablespoons of unsalted butter              ( manteqiulla sin sal)

4 tablespoon flour                                   ( harina de trigo)

2 tablespoons of vrgen extra olive oil       (AOVE)

1 onion                                                   (cebolla)

Salt and whte pepper                              (sal y pimenta blanca)

Pinch of nutmeg                                       (pizca de nuez moscada)  

The broth from cookng the cauliflower     (el caldo de cocer la coliflor)   

Some fresh cilantro leaves                        (hojas de clantro fresco)

Start boiling the cauliflower divided in posies, in salted water, I  like it to be "al dente". strian, but reserve the stock, and put the caulflower in an owen proof  container.

Cut the bacon in small pieces, and fry it in a dry frying pan, put on a paper towel to drian

Then make a Bechamel Sauce, start shoppng the onon finely, and use the olive oil to fry untl it gets transparent, then add the butter, mix and add the flour, mixing all the time. Then add, alternating the milk and the stock, unitl you have a smooth sauce, add nutmeg, salt and whte pepper, and let simmer for about 15 min., then rectify for nutmeg, salt and pepper. Off the heat, add the half of the cheese and mix well, then poor the sauce over the cauliflower , toss over with the grated cheese and top with the bacon.

Put in the preheated owen at 180 degrees for 15-20 min, untl the cheese is totally graitinated.

Toss with the cilantro leaves.

                   

Do you like the green asparagues ?
Now the season is startng, look  at the label  if  they come from Huetor Tajar ,( distrcict of  Granada) they are the best, I wrote a post on my Spanish Blog, have a look at Esparragos Mimosa
 www.recetasdehilde.blogspot.com.es

Love to see you there.
Hilde