My husband is away for work for 8 days. 8 days. That’s the longest we’ve been apart since we’ve been together. But the one perk of my husband being away is that my mom came to visit! My family is everything to me so spending an entire week with my mom – cooking, shopping, hanging out – is just the best!

I’m so lucky to have grown up with a mom who is an amazing cook! I know that she’s the one who inspired my love for cooking. From following recipes to making up my own unique dishes, I always owe a little bit of that to my mom.

[all the goodies.]

Cauliflower – an under appreciated, delicious vegetable.

Cauliflower is part of the cruciferous vegetable family. If there’s one thing you can do to improve your health, it’s by eating more cruciferous veggies! These particular veggies have been studied for their anti-cancer benefits, among other things. Other popular cruciferous veggies include: kale, broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts.

[baked and ready for dipping.]

My favorite ways to eat cauliflower are: roasted in the oven with sea salt, pepper and olive oil, or “riced” and used in stir-frys, with curry, and anywhere else that I would otherwise use rice. I think you’ll be surprised how well this veggie takes on the role of rice in many of your dishes!

Cauliflower pairs deliciously with cheese….and basil, tomatoes, onions and garlic in this dish!

[eat up.]

When my mom’s in town she always does an amazing job of meal planning ahead of time. This visit was no exception. We’ve had some amazing food while she was here, but this one is definitely one of my faves! And one that i’ll be making again.

So check out my mom’s delicious recipe below! I promise you won’t be disappointed. And you may just turn a non veggie lover into a veggie lover with this dish!

[pairs great with a glass of red wine – a Cab is my fave.]

Cheesy Cauliflower Tomato Basil Bake

servings: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped into 1-inch florets
• 1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
• ½ onion diced
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh basil, julienned [sliced thinly]
• 1 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese
• sliced havarti or provolone cheese, enough to top dish 
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ tsp fresh black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add cauliflower, bell peppers, onions and garlic to a parchment paper lined backing sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove veggies from oven and transfer to a baking dish. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees. To veggie mixture, add canned tomatoes, parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Mix together and add additional sea salt and pepper to taste. Top with sliced havarti or provolone cheese. Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese begins to brown. Remove from oven and cool for 15-20 minutes. Serve with sourdough crostinis.

* dish can be served as a main or side dish

5.0 from 2 reviews

Cheesy Cauliflower Tomato Basil Bake

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

55 mins

 

Author: Angela Freed

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped into 1-inch florets
• 1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
• ½ onion diced
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh basil, julienned [sliced thinly]
• 1 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese
• sliced havarti or provolone cheese, enough to top dish
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ tsp fresh black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Add cauliflower, bell peppers, onions and garlic to a parchment paper lined backing sheet.
3. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and black pepper.
4. Bake for 25 minutes.
5. Remove veggies from oven and transfer to a baking dish.
6. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.
7. To veggie mixture, add canned tomatoes, parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
8. Mix together and add additional sea salt and pepper to taste.
9. Top with sliced havarti or provolone cheese.
10. Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly.
11. Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese begins to brown.
12. Remove from oven and cool for 15-20 minutes.
13. Serve with sourdough crostinis.
14. * dish can be served as a main or side dish

3.5.3208

Have you tried this dish? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂