Comforting gratin of cauliflower, tomatoes and kale in a yogurt-harissa sauce, topped with cheese and breadcrumbs.
The moment the weather shifts to cool and drizzly, with murky skies another type of 50 shades of gray, I yearn for soft, liquidy, melty, oozy, food that sticks to my bones.
Comfort food.
No matter where you live, how much money you have or don’t have, your religion, or ethnic background, at least three or four foods immediately comes to mind when you read ‘comfort food’. And maybe something more: memories, images, aromas, stories.
I’m not breaking new ground here, but for me, comfort food is food I have a relationship with. Emotional history. The smells of which transport me to a day I ran in from outside, little fingers stiff and cold, and plopped down to a grilled cheese sandwich oozing cheese onto the plate and my fingers, and a piping hot bowl of tomato soup.
Comfort food is a big warm hug from the past.
More than that, comfort food and me, we’re bonded by trust. When I’m sick, the only food I want is the chicken noodle soup and toasted saltine crackers dripping with melted butter that got me through countless colds and flus as a kid. No other will do.
The problem is, a lot of this wonderful food not only sticks to my bones and warms me up on cold rainy night; it moves in permanently, and before I know it, I’ve put on 10 pounds. So I wanted to create a lighter dish that I could develop a new relationship with. To that end, I combined some old friends (tomatoes, cheese, and cauliflower) with some new ones (kale, yogurt, and harissa) and developed this new comfort dish. We'll have to live together for a while to get some history, but I have to admit I ate much more than my fair share, without the guilt, and felt all warm and happy. It's a good start.
Rustic Cauliflower and Tomato Gratin
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower cut to separate its florets; halve large florets
- 2 cups stemmed and chopped kale
- 1 cup plain yogurt Greek yogurt will be too thick
- 2 tablespoons [url]harissa ∞https://thewimpyvegetarian.com/2012/11/sundaysupper-gifts-from-the-kitchen-harissa/[/url]
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon sriracha sauce
- zest from ½ large orange about ¼ teaspoon
- 1 ½ tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- ½ cup thinly sliced shallots
- ½ cup chopped semi-soft tofu optional
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese divided
- 1 to mato chopped
- 1 to mato thickly sliced
- ½ cup [url]browned butter bread crumbs ∞https://thewimpyvegetarian.com/2012/02/browned-butter-breadcrumbs-and-liebster-awards/[/url]
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Steam the cauliflower over simmering water. Set aside.
- Add the kale to the simmering water and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.Remove and drain well, squeezing most of the moisture out of the kale leaves.
- Combine the yogurt, harissa, Worcestershire sauce, curry, sriracha, orange zest, orange juice and vinegar in a large bowl. Whisk to thoroughly combine. Add the shallots, tofu (if using), ½ cup cheddar cheese, and the cauliflower and kale. Toss together with a large metal spoon until everything is coated with the yogurt sauce.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, and gently toss again.
- Spoon the mixture into a medium casserole dish. Top with the sliced tomatoes and the breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until starting to bubble. Remove the gratin from the oven and sprinkle the rest of the cheddar cheese over the top. Return the gratin to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Choc Chip Uru
So much flavour and so much hunger = good combo 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks CCU!!!
Renee
Cauliflower and tomatoes are two veggies I cook with often. Now a dish that combines them with a breadcrumb crust - I'm all in!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
I think you gave the best description: Comfort food is a big warm hug from the past
So many flavors in this recipe, it´s so interesting and sounds yummy!
juanitascocina
There's nothing more comforting to me than a dish with tomatoes. This looks simply amazing!
apuginthekitchen
Wow does this sound wonderful, a really delicious way to enjoy the ever so bland cauliflower. I hope to give this a try soon, it would be a delicious side for Thanksgiving.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much Suzanne! Cauliflower's blandness allows it to have so many friends too - but I think one of my very favorite ways is with curry and tomatoes. I hope you give it a try 🙂
baker street
Holy yum! comfort food indeed! This looks too good!
lizthechef
Love the tofu here - I'm going to sneak some into my vegetable gratins from now on.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Liz! I'm adding semi-soft tofu right now to any casseroles, pasta, anywhere in short where it can hide 🙂 I haven't become a tofu lover yet, but in dishes like this I get the protein benefit without even knowing it's there. Even Myles didn't notice!
sunithi
Ok, healthy comfort food like this ... I can eat anytime if only someone would make it for me ! Very rustic & yummy indeed ! love this !
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Isn't it funny that as much as we all love to cook, sometimes at the end of the day we just want someone to cook for us 🙂
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
I'm not even a big fan of cauliflower but this looks amazing!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much Becca!! This is a great way to try cauliflower 🙂
veronica gantley
This would make a great Lenten recipe. I bookmarked it for later. I am pinning this puppy to!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Veronica 🙂
diabeticFoodie
I need to change my vision of comfort food. Yum!
Megan - I Run For Wine
I think this would make an amazing side dish for Thanksgiving. Thank you so much for sharing!
Jennie @themessybakerblog
Oh, yum! This gratin looks so good. I can't wait to try this. Pinned.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much Jennie!! I hope you like it as much as we did!
Tara
This looks amazing!! Love all the spices!! I have to go look up what harissa is.
Kim Bee
I need to try this one for my hubby. He would flip his lid for this. Looks so good.
Katie
This dish looks absolutely beautiful! I love new ways to cook cauliflower aside from my usual roasting method - thanks for sharing it!
Debra
This looks so delicious, comforting, and homey.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much Debra! It's wonderful on a cool, drizzly October evening 🙂
mjskit
I have to say - You sure make cauliflower look good! Not a huge fan of it, but this recipe and all the different flavors could probably turn that around! Great looking dish!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I really don't think you have to be a fan of cauliflower to like this dish. The other flavors really take over 🙂
Bea
This looks so delicious!
Jennifer B
I am dying for some of your dish right now! It looks so delicious!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I love your ditalini dish!! I can't wait to make it this week!!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
OMG, I absolutely LOVE this!! and I SO love how you explained comfort food for you: "comfort food is food I have a relationship with. Emotional history." So true! I absolutely love this! Very well said. Word.
Laura Hunter
My last version of cauliflower gratin didn't turn out but your recipe makes me want to try it again
Erika
Mmmm that looks so delicious! I love comfort food that you can eat just a little too much of without feeling guilty 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Me too! 🙂
Stephanie Zielinski
I love that you brought together "old and new friends." I can't wait to try this recipe!
Hannah
Perfect timing for this recipe! We have wind and rain and I'm definitely in the mood for a comforting supper. I love the spice and flavors you have in here! Definitely a warm and happy dish!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Hannah! This is perfect for a windy rainy evening. Hope you and your family likes it 🙂
Hannah
Quick question - do you think I could prepare this ahead til the baking part, freeze it, then bake it later?
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Hi Hannah! I'm not sure about how it would affect the consistency - if it would make it more watery and soggy. It might be ok, I'm just not sure since I haven't done it myself. I'd love to hear how it goes if you try freezing it first!
Hannah
That makes sense - just curious, since I like to stash a couple of casseroles in the freezer for quick week night dinners. Thanks for getting back to me!
Dara
Love this recipe! It's light AND comforting. Well done.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Dara!!
Yum Girl
That looks so delicious and I love the photo. If I may, I’d like to invite you to submit your photos to the new YumGoggle, a photo sharing site with the philosophy that if you worked hard to cook it and photograph it, we should show it off! Hope to see you there soon!
Rita Held Cartalano
Love this, Susan. Comfort food is THE reason my favorite season is winter. Yes, I'm atypical. Being cozy inside with a good book or movie after a "comforting" supper, is nirvana for me. Thanks for all the links!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I love fall and winter for much the same reason. That coziness is nirvana to me too 🙂
foodwanderings
Love, love the photo. What a beautiful gratin. I love anything cauliflower though haven't cooked it in so long. Thanks for the inspiration!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much - I love cauliflower too!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Oh wow! Thanks so much!!!
Renee
I love comforting dishes like this - so perfect for when the temps dip. Looks great!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much!!
Liz
Such a magnificent gratin! I love the combo of tomatoes and cauliflower...but even more, anything topped with bread crumbs and cheese 🙂
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
I am a big fan of cauliflower, but my husband isn't. But with all these spices and goodness, he just might get on board.
Angie @ Big Bear's Wife
Beautiful! I love this and the photos!
Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom)
"Comfort food is a big warm hug from the past."
'Tis the truth!
I love the heat and textures going on in this dish. Hearty and healthy...
Sarah Reid, RHNC (@jo_jo_ba)
Love the touch of harissa in this!
Sarah
This dish sounds amazing! I love gratin. Tomaotes and cauliflower sound wonderful with the spices.
Amanda
What a great way to add flavor to cauliflower!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Amanda. I love working with it - it goes so well with so many flavors!
Anne @ Webicurean
This sounds really good. I love cauliflower, yet for some reason, I don't cook it as often as I should. Hubby will like this one too, so definitely want to give it a try soon.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I came to cauliflower late in life, but once I found it I keep finding new ways to cook with it. Hope you give it a try!
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