Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Warming Up Winter

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (46)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(46)

Cook Time:
35 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 35 min
Total:: 45 min

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Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, cut into pieces (about 6 cups)
4 ounce piece pancetta, diced
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 clove garlic, whole
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/3 cup bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch the cauliflower for 2 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to a buttered 9 by 13-inch baking dish and let cool, about 5 minutes.

In a small skillet over medium-high heat, brown the pancetta. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until combined. Continue stirring for 2 minutes to cook the flour. Slowly add the milk, stirring continuously until the milk has incorporated and there are no lumps. Add the garlic clove and red pepper flakes and stir the sauce over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon. Add the Parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and the reserved pancetta. Stir to combine. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower to cover. Top with a sprinkling of bread crumbs.

Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden and the cauliflower is cooked, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta
Jackie New port richey, FL 06-17-2009
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GREAT
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this recipe for my husband. I do not like cauliflower but tasted it wow. I make this recipe all the time now,
recipe Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta
emma covington, GA 05-18-2009
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yikes! Yuck!
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

I was soooooo excited to try this recipe. Unfortunately, the end did not justify the means. At all. The sauce was thick... and stringy, the flavor just weird. I picked the cauliflower out of the sauce (the sauce was that solid), but even that was gross. I'm sorry, Giada, normally I heart you, but this was a disaster!Read more
recipe Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta
Susan Vancouver, BC 02-27-2009
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De-lish
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've made cauliflower lots of different ways but, this recipe is a keeper. It's comforting and delicious. My boyfriend... scraped the pan clean. I am not a heat wimp by any stretch but, 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for this small dish is alot.Read more
recipe Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta
Katie Los Angeles, CA 02-21-2009
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SO, so, so good...cut down on the red pepper though
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this as a side dish to some roasted chicken and it was fantastic!! I cut down a lot on the red pepper flakes and it... was perfect. Creamy, smokey and a tiny bit spicy...i will make it again and again.Read more
recipe Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta
sandra reseda, CA 01-19-2009
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remarkable
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this dish but I made it with Purple Cauliflower. My grocery store had Purple Cauliflower, I never knew there was such... a thing. Anyway, it turned out great. My family loved it. It was easy to make. I plan on making it over and over again. Read more
recipe Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta
Leigh Nacogdoches, TX 01-10-2009
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wonderful side dish!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I just made this and despite a few adjustments it came out really well! I'm not sure how one head of cauliflower is supposed... to fill a 9x13 pan, so instead i used a 9x9 pan & therefore i used fewer breadcrumbs (i wish i'd used a more chunky style of crumbs too, mine were closer to a powder). The milk took a while to thicken (but it was skim). And I was really nervous about using crushed red pepper, but it wasn't too hot at all (and im a real wimp). Definitely try this!Read more