Cauliflower and cheese bake with onion rings

Cauliflower and cheese bake with onion rings

Ingredients

• 1 small cauliflower, outer leaves removed, broken into florets

• 1 medium red onion, peeled

• 5 tbsp olive oil

• ½ tsp finely chopped rosemary

• 7 eggs

• ½ cup basil leaves, chopped

• 120g plain flour, sifted

• 1 ½ tsp baking powder

• 1/3 tsp ground turmeric

• 150g coarsely grated Parmesan

• Melted unsalted butter

• 1 tbsp white sesame seeds

• 1 tsp nigella seeds

• Salt and black pepper

• Watercress salad

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Place the cauliflower florets in a saucepan and add 1 tsp salt. Cover with water and simmer for 15 mins, until the florets are quite soft. They should break when pressed with a spoon. Drain and set aside in a colander to dry.
3. Cut 4 round slices off one end of the onion and set aside.
4. Coarsely chop the rest of the onion and place in a small pan with the oil and rosemary.
5. Cook for 10 mins over medium heat, stirring from time to time, until soft.
6. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
7. Transfer the onion to a large bowl, add the eggs and basil, whisk well, and then add the flour, baking powder, turmeric, Parmesan, 1 tsp salt, and plenty of pepper.
8. Whisk until smooth before adding the cauliflower and stirring gently, trying not to break up the florets.
9. Line the base and sides of a springform cake pan with parchment paper.
10. Brush the sides with melted butter, then mix together the sesame and nigella seeds and toss them around the inside of the pan so that they stick to the sides.
11. Pour the cauliflower mixture into the pan, spreading it evenly, and arrange the reserved onion rings on top.
12. Place in the center of the oven and bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown and set; a knife inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean.
13. Remove from the oven and leave for at least 20 minutes before serving. It needs to be served just warm, rather than hot, or at room temperature.

This recipe first appeared on Gourmet Today TV, aired on TVM on 20 November, 2015.