Cauliflower Gratin with Ham and Cheddar Cheese

Name: Cauliflower Gratin with Ham and Cheddar Cheese
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 4 slices, white sandwich bread with crusts, each slice torn into quarters; 2 tablespoons, unsalted butter, softened; 1/4 teaspoon, table salt; 1/8 teaspoon, ground black pepper; 1 large head, cauliflower (about 3 pounds), trimmed into 3/4-inch florets (see illustrations below); 2 tablespoons, unsalted butter, softened; 1 tablespoon, table salt; 1 , medium shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons); 6 ounces, ham steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1 cup); 1 clove, garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon, unbleached all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups, heavy cream; Pinch, fresh ground nutmeg; Pinch, cayenne pepper; 1/8 teaspoon, ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon, minced fresh thyme leaves; 1/2 cup, grated cheddar cheese (2 ounces), plus 2 tablespoons

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated March/April 2002

SERVES6

TIME1¼ hours

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

In developing a cauliflower gratin recipe, our goal was to marry tender yet toothsome cauliflower florets with a lightly thickened sauce, then to top it all off with buttery, crisp crumbs. We parcooked the florets before adding them to the ...

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