After my foray into the fun of twice-baked cauliflower a few weeks ago, I started wondering what else I could use cauliflower for. I truly feel that this is a vegetable that I have been ignoring for way too long. Not anymore! I think we are having cauliflower in one form or another at least 3 nights a week, and I am not complaining.

Saturday, though, I stepped way outside the box. I had pulled a container of homemade spaghetti sauce from the freezer. I was planning on baked ziti for supper. Well, evening came around and I went to grab pasta out of the cabinet, to find that there was none (apparently my daughter had decided pasta and butter was a great snack). It was pouring out, and I did not feel like braving the elements to run to the grocery store. I peeked around to see what else I could find and spotted (you guessed it) a head of cauliflower. Hmmm… can cauliflower be substituted for pasta? We were about to find out.

I cut my cauliflower into chunks and steamed it for a few minutes until it was al dente. I then decided to start putting my elements together. In a casserole dish, I layered my steamed cauliflower and homemade tomato sauce. I topped it all with a mix of mozzarella, parmesan, and asiago cheeses and then baked until bubbly.

The big test was the first bite. It was delicious! I was surprised by the depth of flavor that the cauliflower brought to this simple dish. We all went back for second helpings. After we were all pleasantly full, I put away the leftovers (which barely survived a day). This happy accident has become a dish that I can’t wait to make again.

Italian Cauliflower Bake

Ingredients:

• One head of cauliflower
• 4 cups homemade tomato sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded cheese (I used a blend of mozzarella, parmesan and asiago)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cut cauliflower into chunks
• Steam for 4-5 minutes (leaving al dente)
• Layer cauliflower and sauce in 9×13 inch casserole dish
• Cover with cheese
• Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly

Have you ever used cauliflower in an unusual way?