Cauliflower Crowns with Pesto & Prosciutto

By JenHall

This was super yummy - made a few adjustments to original recipe though. I wanted crispy prosciutto so I baked prosciutto at 375 for about 15 mins & crumbled over cauliflower at end. Also, couldn't find smoked almonds so just used raw almonds - seemed to taste fine. Used Vitamix to make pesto - only made 1/2 recipe - almonds seemed to get stuck under blades so pesto was a little lumpier then it should have been.

Ingredients

• 2 heads cauliflower (about 1 1/2 lb. each)
• 1 cup snipped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup smoked walnuts or almonds
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon, crushed
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons diced prosciutto or bacon (1 oz.)
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley sprig (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

1. Wash cauliflower heads and remove leaves and woody stems. Break each cauliflower heat into 6 to 8 clusters. In 6-quart Dutch oven cook cauliflower, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Transfer to a covered storage container and chill up to 24 hours.

2. Meanwhile, for pesto, in a food processor bowl or blender container combine snipped parsley, walnuts or almonds, oil, tarragon, garlic, and vinegar. Cover and process or blend with several on-off turns until smooth. Transfer to a storage container and cover and chill.

3. Place cauliflower in a microwave safe 2-quart oval baking dish. Microcook on 100 percent power (high) for 4 to 6 minutes, turning dish once. Drizzle melted butter over cauliflower. Pour half of the pesto around base of cauliflower and pass remainder. Makes 12 side-dish servings.

From the Test Kitchen
•Tip To serve right away:Cauliflower and pesto may be served without chilling.
Nutrition Facts (Cauliflower Crowns with Pesto and Prosciutto)
Servings Per Recipe 12,Calories 155,Protein (gm) 3,Carbohydrate (gm) 5,Fat, total (gm) 15,Cholesterol (mg) 5,Saturated fat (gm) 3,Dietary Fiber, total (gm) 2,Sodium (mg) 69,Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet