Bacon-Wrapped Cauliflower
Looking to make this dish suitable for vegetarians? No problem at all—simply omit the bacon! For an extra burst of flavor, you can prepare a mixture of minced garlic and olive oil to brush on the outside before baking. Since there's no need to worry about crisping bacon, you can reduce the baking time to around 10 minutes at 450°F, and your dish will be perfectly cooked.
Ingredients
- 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 c. lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- 1 head cauliflower, leaves removed and stem trimmed so cauliflower lays flat, but still intact
- 1 (10-oz.) package frozen spinach, thawed, water squeezed out and chopped
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 c. shredded cheddar
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1/2 c. panko
- 1/4 c. grated Parmesan
- 1 lb. thinly sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°. Bring 8 cups water, oil, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil in a large pot. Add cauliflower and bring back to a boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer and place a plate on top of the cauliflower to keep it submerged. Simmer until a knife easily inserts into the center, about 12 minutes.
- Using 2 slotted spoons or a mesh spider, transfer cauliflower to a small rimmed baking sheet. Let cool.
- Meanwhile, combine spinach, eggs, green onions, garlic, cheddar, cream cheese, panko, and Parmesan and place in a piping bag with a ¾-inch tip.
- Position cooled cauliflower stem side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Pipe filling between stalks of florets. Flip cauliflower stem side down, then lay strips of bacon, just slightly overlapping strips, over cauliflower, tucking ends of strips into bottom of cauliflower.
- Roast, rotating sheet halfway through, until golden all over, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 934kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 33gFat: 81gSaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 227mgSodium: 1264mgPotassium: 1180mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gCalcium: 428mgIron: 4mg
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