Baked Cauliflower Volcano (Vegetables Au Gratin)

This is one of my favorite recipes. It earned me the 1st Prize and my first prize when I was still in my teens. This dish is most comforting to me. Serve hot with dinner rolls and pasta, or enjoy it with anything - rice, naan, tortillas, etc.

• Preparation Time: 35 mins
• Cooking Time: 41 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 16 mins
• Calories: 371 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• salt to taste
• ⅜ cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup minced onion
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ cup diced red bell pepper
• ½ cup green peas
• ½ cup chopped carrot
• 3 ½ ounces processed cheese food, grated
• 1 small head cauliflower, stalk removed
• 2 cups diced potato
• ½ cup chopped green beans
• 1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns, divided
• 2 tablespoons bread crumbs (Optional)
• 3 ½ ounces grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly pour in milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in processed cheese, heavy cream, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and Italian seasoning.

Step 3

Prick whole cauliflower in several places with a fork. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook, uncovered, until slightly tender, about 3 minutes. Drain.

Step 4

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add potato, carrot, red bell peppers, peas, and green beans. Season with salt. Increase heat to high and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables start to release their moisture, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon crushed black peppercorns.

Step 5

Transfer vegetables to prepared baking dish. Place whole cauliflower in the center. Pour some sauce over cauliflower; fold remaining sauce in with vegetables. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Scatter Parmesan cheese on top. Sprinkle remaining 2 teaspoons peppercorns over cheese.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, about 20 minutes.