IndianMain course

Curried Cauliflower Gratin

Name: Curried Cauliflower Gratin
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 0.25 cup breadcrumbs; 14.5 ounce coconut milk; 2 lb cauliflower; 0.5 cup garnish: cilantro; 0.25 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; 6 servings curry powder; 2 tablespoons flour; 1 tablespoon ginger; 1.5 teaspoons garlic; 0.5 teaspoon ground cardamom; 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin; 2 pinches ground nutmeg; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 tablespoons peanut oil; 5 tablespoons shallot; 2 tablespoons butter

This gratin features tender cauliflower baked in a creamy, spiced coconut milk sauce. It’s a straightforward dish where the cauliflower gets steamed until just tender, then layered with a fragrant curry sauce and topped with breadcrumbs and cumin seeds for a bit of crunch. The sauce comes together quickly on the stovetop, building layers of flavor with ginger, garlic, shallots, and a mix of warm spices. It bakes until golden and bubbling, making for a comforting side or main dish.

Recipes.zone

August 28, 2026

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8 steps · 45 min total

Prep Cauliflower and Dish

Preheat your oven to 400 °F. Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish and set it aside.

Steam the whole cauliflower until it's tender but not soggy; this usually takes about 15 minutes. Let it cool slightly, then slice the cauliflower horizontally into thick rounds.

Sauté Aromatics and Spices

Heat the 2 tablespoons peanut oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

Add the 1 tablespoon ginger, 5 tablespoons shallot, and 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and fragrant. Stir in the 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 6 servings curry powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and 2 pinches ground nutmeg, and continue to sauté until the spices are aromatic, about 3 minutes.

Thicken with Flour and Coconut Milk

Sprinkle in the 2 tablespoons flour and stir it into the spice mixture, cooking for about 2 minutes to toast the flour. Whisk in the 14 1/2 ounce coconut milk and 1 teaspoon kosher salt, then bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Layer Gratin

Arrange the sliced cauliflower and the curry cream sauce in alternating layers in your prepared baking dish.

Add Topping

Evenly sprinkle the 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs over the top of the cauliflower and curry cream.

Drizzle Butter

Drizzle the 2 tablespoons melted butter over the breadcrumbs.

Bake Gratin

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Garnish and Serve

Once out of the oven, sprinkle the finished gratin with the 1/2 cup minced cilantro and serve warm.

Curried Cauliflower Gratin