Skip to main content

Cauliflower-Leek Kugel with Almond-Herb Crust

4.2

(99)

Image may contain Plant Food Lunch and Meal
Cauliflower-Leek Kugel with Almond-Herb CrustPornchai Mittongtare

Coarsely mashed vegetables are the main ingredients in this utterly surprising — and irresistible — kugel.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

8 cups cauliflower florets (from 2 medium heads of cauliflower)
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 cups coarsely chopped leeks (white and pale green parts; from 3 large)
6 tablespoons unsalted matzo meal
3 large eggs
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/3 cup almonds, toasted, chopped

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; transfer to large bowl and mash coarsely with potato masher.

    Step 2

    Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks and sauté until tender and just beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add leek mixture to cauliflower. Mix in matzo meal. Beat eggs, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 tablespoon dill, salt, and pepper in small bowl to blend; stir into cauliflower mixture.

    Step 3

    Brush 11x7-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon oil. Spread cauliflower mixture evenly in prepared dish. Mix almonds, remaining 7 tablespoons parsley, 7 tablespoons dill, and 2 tablespoons oil in medium bowl to blend. Sprinkle evenly over kugel. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)

    Step 4

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake kugel uncovered until set in center and beginning to brown on top, about 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.

Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Loosely inspired by pasta Amatriciana, a few pounds of zucchini stand in for tomatoes.
No grill needed for this just-charred-enough sweet and spicy chicken.
Invert the ratio of gin to vermouth for a party-friendly and slightly lighter drinking experience.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.