This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe was something new for me. It is called “Cauliflower-Bacon Gratin”. I rarely cook with cauliflower. Not because I don’t like it, it’s just not something in my usual repertoire.
The way this dish is assembled is interesting. Cauliflower is cooked in boiling water and then placed in a baking dish with crisp bacon. Then a mixture of 5 eggs, cream, milk, a little flour, pepper, and nutmeg is poured over the cauliflower. Grated Gruyère cheese is sprinkled on top.
The gratin comes out of the oven puffed up and golden. Dorie described the gratin as “a little like a quiche”. Rather than quiche, I thought it was more like Yorkshire pudding or a Dutch baby.
We really liked this unique (to us) dish. I could definitely see it as part of a holiday menu.
You can find the recipe in Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table, a book I highly recommend!
From Scratch 
Glad you enjoyed this one – this is a favorite in our house (although, we try not to make it show up too often,…)
Happy New Year & look forward to cooking along with you in 2012.
Isn’t it fun to try new things? I love cauliflower (especially roasted) but don’t fix it as often as I should.
Your gratin is so beautifully puffy! Nice work! What are you serving this alongside? Is that Dorie’s duck breast? Whatever it is, it looks tasty. I’ve enjoyed cooking with you this year, Karen. Happy New Year!
Your gratin turned out lovely – how fun to find a new way to use cauliflower. We end up eating that veggie often so I was delighted when I spied this recipe last year. Have made it several times since and it is a winner. As rich as it is, it still seems like health food compared to the creme brulee and other treats we have been enjoying this week. Happy New Year from Nana and I !
Your gratin looks good…nicely puffed and nice golden browned. It must be delicious from the look of it. I like mine too with the mixed herbs in it 🙂 it turned out delicious too and I will be making it again when I am too lazy to cook something more elaborate 🙂 Happy New Year to you !
Your gratin puffed up beautifully! Your dinner looks mouth watering – such a perfect side with beef.
I hope you and your family have a fabulous New Year, Karen, and many blessings to you in 2012!
Nice puff on your gratin! Happy New Year!
The front corner on your first picture does look very Yorkshire-pudding-esque.
Yum. Puffy! I’ll be making this for a New Year’s day brunch this year.
We loved this in our home! It’s definitely on the entertainment rotation for us. Great substitute for the traditional potatoe starch.
Happy New Year!
I thought it was more like a Dutch baby too – mine was all custard with just a bit of cauliflower.
Happy new year to you. I had to seek up what a Dutch baby was, although I come from the Netherlands it’s not something we eat around here. Learned something new though.
Your gratin looks like perfection! I was so sorry to miss this one…just too much going on over the holidays this year. Hope your Christmas was merry and wishing you a wonderful blessed New Year!