Part two of my introduction to the many varied coloured seasonal fruit and vegetables available in the markets and supermarkets here in Paris this time of year, is a delicious, simple, cauliflower cheese made with the amazing orange cauliflower (see my post for I can cook a Rainbow and Tartes aux Mirabelles)
Again sticking to my ethos of seasonal eating, I only make this dish at this time of year when the cauliflowers are fresh from the fields and not from a giant greenhouse. Rather than finding it frustrating, as I did when I first came to live here, I now love the fact that certain fruits and vegetables are only available at certain times of year, and make good use of them while they are available, and look forward to my favourites returning the following year.
Gorgeous ‘Romanesco’ another delicious variety of Cauliflower, that originates from the region surrounding Rome in Italy, but readily available in French supermarkets at this time of year.
I could probably tell what month it was, just by looking at what was for sale in the markets and even the local supermarket – something I could never have done while shopping at Sainsbury’s in the UK, as I could buy whatever, whenever! I think that his way of eating is not only better for your health, but also for the environment.
I spotted these intriguing little turnips the size of tangerines in the supermarket this morning
They also had some amazing purple caulis, but I must confess, I am not quite ready to take the plunge and cook with these just yet (maybe next year……..) I am, though, rather excited to see the return of the multi coloured carrots (the white/pale yellow make delicious soup See my‘Veloute de Madame Loik’ and the violet are superb in a casserole – see my ‘Cocotte de Veau avec Carrottes Violettes et gingembre’)
Amazing ‘Purple’ Cauliflowers – Any recipe ideas would be gratefully received!
While we are on the subject of things coming in different varieties here in France, a friend of my daughter commented on social media a short while back, that he was excited to be travelling on a two storey train in Holland. Two storey trains are very common here, and in fact we have three storey trains also.
A three story train opposite my apartment
Here is a photo that I snapped of an unusually empty three storey train that I was travelling on coming home from work (I got on at a rural terminus around lunchtime – it would be standing room only by the time it had gone 10 stops and hit the city centre!) And another of one stopped at the station opposite my apartment.
Where are all the people – Ghost train on the RER A!
Back to the Cauliflower cheese – or, to be more precise, the cheese.
In the absence of a ‘real’ ‘real English Cheddar’ I go for ‘Gruyere’. English Cheddar cheese has very recently crept into one or two local supermarkets, but I think that this is just a clever marketing ploy by the canny French, to ensure that the French buy French produce and to reinforce the idea that English food is terrible! French supermarket Cheddar is rubbery, tasteless, has a high water content, so is nowhere near as good to use in cooking than bona fide English Cheddar. The exception being if you have access to a Marks & Spencer, where it is the real McCoy!
Ingredients
1 Cauliflower (choux fleur) of any colour!
1 tablespoon (2 cuillers a soupe) of salted butter
1 table spoon of corn flour (farine a Mais)
½ pt / 250ml of milk
2 tablespoons (4 cuiller a soupe) of grated (rapé) Cheddar cheese
A good pinch of Nutmeg (Noix de Muscade)
Freshly ground sea salt
Method
Break the Cauli into large ‘florets’ and steam for around 10-15 minutes until ‘al dente’, remove from steam and cover with a dry tea towel (torchon) to absorb the excess steam.
Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour and cook on a gentle heat, stirring into a soft paste.
Add the milk a little as a time, stirring constantly to avoid lumps forming, if they do then add a little more milk and stir vigorously with a hand milk until they disappear.
Stir in the nutmeg and the grated Cheddar and season with a little salt
Arrange the Cauliflower in an oven proof dish and pour over the sauce
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees / gas mark 6 for around 30 minutes until the sauce golden
Either serve this as a vegetable with roast meat, or simply with some warm crusty bread as a light lunch or supper dish.
Some lovely multi coloured carrots and tomatoes
A Taste of two Cities 
I use Cantal as my cheddar substitute (but I live in Auvergne so that is probably predictable) or the more expensive Salers. We get the green weirdy cauli things here and of course white ones but purple? No – not come this far south yet – and neither have the 3-level trains Our high-speed is clearly a fake TGV … but the alignment of RhoneAlps with Auvergne in January (I’m opposed) my rectify that – they say it will but I don’t EVER believe a politician 😉
Yes, Cantal is great – but SO expensive here – you are so lucky, you have the best beef and cheese in France, says she living with a man who comes from the land of Camembert – that’s two of us in the ‘Maison du Chien’!
The RER A carries more passengers by day than any other line in Europe (though it is not apparent by my photo) – so we need three stories, but we still have old single decker sardine cans passing – usually at rush hour, they are like ovens all year round, as no air con in summer and the heating on full blast as soon as it is ‘Le Rentre’ The sexy three storey ones are perfectly air conned
(The bright orange cauli was really good )
Wow this looks so good! I am shocked by these amazing colors! So different, thanks for sharing this with us! Wow
Ha ha ha – it was quite shocking for me too Lynz when I first saw things like this, as they are not ‘normal’ in the UK either
yes very cool!
Ok I also like the pinch of nutmeg!! yumm
Just made a fab tagine – but it has gone in the queue! (put nutmeg in that also…..)
yummm
those purple cauliflowers are amazing! they look beautiful!
ha ha – I have not plucked up courage to try cooking them yet – put me in mind of Bridget Jones’s blue leek soup!
Looooong time ago I’ve seen purple cauliflower at supermarket, but that time I didn’t know what to do with it..
All that produce looks amazing, so many awesome colors! 🙂 And baked cauliflower looks very tasty! Yum yum
Me neither sweetie – I don’t kno what to do with a purple cauliflower – I am open to suggestions lol
It can be purple purée.. Or the same what you made-just bake it, or it will lose its pretty color?
OK Mila – I have taken your suggestions and ‘worked’ on them and I have two maybe three ideas. I don’t know if I will have time this year as they are only in the shops for a few weeks and maybe they have already disappeared.
Meric x