Romanesco broccoli, that is. This most unusual of crucifers — looking like alien vessels, shrubbery maintained by garden gnomes or perhaps an oddly green coral outcropping — is actually a variant form of cauliflower, known for its visually stunning fractal appearance as much as for its tastiness. When I spotted a bin full of perfectly fresh specimens at North Star Orchard’s stand at last week’s OFM, I couldn’t resist taking one home.
The question was what to do with it once I got it home. Not one to cook from recipes very often, I decided to just wing it, my only parameter being to utilize ingredients from the Oakmont Market wherever possible. Here’s what I came up with — my “recipe,” if you insist.
Romanesco cidrée au gratin
(Don’t let the fancy French name scare you. It’s really easy.)
Ingredients:
– One medium-large head of Romanesco, florets divided and stem chopped in 1/2 inch cubes.
– One medium yellow onion, diced
– A few ounces of fresh apple cider
– Olive oil
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Cheddar, Jack, Gruyere or other semi-soft cows’ milk cheese, grated or thinly sliced.
Directions:
– Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
– Steam Romanesco until al dente. If using the stem, give the stem pieces a brief head start.
– Meanwhile, sautée onion in olive oil until aromatic and soft.
– Remove Romanesco from the steamer, shake off excess moisture and add to the sautée pan, cooking together with the onions for a minute or two, just enough to let the flavors meld.
– Add apple cider to the pan — I used the delicious cider from Fruitwood Orchards — and simmer until cider reduces by about half.
– Transfer contents of pan to an oven safe casserole, top with cheese of your choice and bake in oven until cheese starts to bubble. I used Gruyere (that I already had on-hand) but the Cheddar or Jack from Hillacres Pride should work mighty fine.
– Remove from oven and you’re ready to enjoy.
Can be served on its own as a side dish or over brown rice or other grain of choice as a main course.
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Posted by David McDuff, HTFMA
McDuff’s Food & Wine Trail