Cauliflower-Cheese Pie w/ Grated Potato Crust
06-12-2024, 10:05 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-12-2024, 10:10 AM by hannah.)
Originally from the Moosewood Cookbook, after years of making it I thought Mollie's (Katzen) was just so labor intensive (especially with the grating of a raw potato)...so I changed it up years ago and this is how I've made it ever since. Posted on my FB page and @Southern Belle requested the recipe. So, here it is!
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Cauliflower Cheese Pie with Grated Potato Crust
my altered version from: Mollie Katzen’s The New Moosewood Cookbook
For the crust
1 pkg frozen hash browns, thawed (overnight in colander) (16 oz)
½ t. salt
1 egg, beaten
¼ c. grated onion, or ½ tsp onion powder, or to taste
Preheat the oven to 400°F and generously butter a 9 ½-10″ pie pan. USE BUTTER!
Add the beaten egg, onion powder and pepper. Pat the mixture evenly into your pie dish, building it up the sides to form the crust. USE BUTTER ON YOUR PAN!
Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and brush the crust with oil. Return to oven for 10-15 more minutes. Remove and set aside.
Lower oven to 375°F
For the filling (while crust is baking)
2 T. olive oil/butter mixture
1 head medium cauliflower, broken into florets I leave mine a tad ‘large’, not teeny tiny florets
1 small diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced, or, garlic powder to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Spike seasoning (unsalted), to taste – or your favorite all-purpose seasoning
Extra grated sharp cheddar (see below)*
Paprika, for dusting
Heat olive oil/butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper (to taste) and Spike (or your fav all-purpose seasoning) and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add the cauliflower and appx ¼ cup of water stir well to coat. Cover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender but still a bit firm, 10-12 minutes. Set aside and make your cheese sauce. Ensure the majority of the water added has evaporated.
Make approximately 2 cups of cheese sauce -I’m going to assume you all know how to make a cheese sauce.
*Assemble: Sprinkle the bottom of the crust with ~1/4 cup of grated cheese, spoon in the cauliflower mixture, pour the cheese sauce over and sprinkle another ~1/4 cup of grated cheese on top, dust with paprika.
OH: edit to add, you may want to cover the edges of the crust with foil for the second baking. I always do.
Bake 35-40 minutes, until set. Note: recipe doubles very well.
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You can do an internet search for her original recipe, that would omit the step of making a cheese sauce, but I do think it tastes much better my way.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cauliflower Cheese Pie with Grated Potato Crust
my altered version from: Mollie Katzen’s The New Moosewood Cookbook
For the crust
1 pkg frozen hash browns, thawed (overnight in colander) (16 oz)
½ t. salt
1 egg, beaten
¼ c. grated onion, or ½ tsp onion powder, or to taste
Preheat the oven to 400°F and generously butter a 9 ½-10″ pie pan. USE BUTTER!
Add the beaten egg, onion powder and pepper. Pat the mixture evenly into your pie dish, building it up the sides to form the crust. USE BUTTER ON YOUR PAN!
Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and brush the crust with oil. Return to oven for 10-15 more minutes. Remove and set aside.
Lower oven to 375°F
For the filling (while crust is baking)
2 T. olive oil/butter mixture
1 head medium cauliflower, broken into florets I leave mine a tad ‘large’, not teeny tiny florets
1 small diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced, or, garlic powder to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Spike seasoning (unsalted), to taste – or your favorite all-purpose seasoning
Extra grated sharp cheddar (see below)*
Paprika, for dusting
Heat olive oil/butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper (to taste) and Spike (or your fav all-purpose seasoning) and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add the cauliflower and appx ¼ cup of water stir well to coat. Cover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender but still a bit firm, 10-12 minutes. Set aside and make your cheese sauce. Ensure the majority of the water added has evaporated.
Make approximately 2 cups of cheese sauce -I’m going to assume you all know how to make a cheese sauce.
*Assemble: Sprinkle the bottom of the crust with ~1/4 cup of grated cheese, spoon in the cauliflower mixture, pour the cheese sauce over and sprinkle another ~1/4 cup of grated cheese on top, dust with paprika.
OH: edit to add, you may want to cover the edges of the crust with foil for the second baking. I always do.
Bake 35-40 minutes, until set. Note: recipe doubles very well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can do an internet search for her original recipe, that would omit the step of making a cheese sauce, but I do think it tastes much better my way.
"I've always thought I hated jazz. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it's great to hear all the notes at once."
-Sheldon Cooper
-Sheldon Cooper