Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin with ham

Welcome to the January 31, 2016 edition of Sunday Scratchups: Your weekly recipe from scratch around grocery store sales and affordable ingredients. This week cauliflower is on sale everywhere, so let’s take advantage of those great prices + some more leftover ham in another easy cheesy low carb recipe (which also happens to be gluten free!).

I can’t even tell you how much MashupDad and Junior High Guy loved this recipe, probably because it’s a big mess of cheese, cheese, and more cheese. I bought more cauliflower yesterday, and as soon as I pulled it out of the bag: “Is that to make more of that cauliflower gratin stuff?!?” So try this one out on the menfolk in your own life. 😉

Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin with ham

Ingredients

One small head of cauliflower (about 1 lb of florets)
Olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
A couple of slices of leftover cooked ham, diced (about 1/3 lb)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

Directions

Wash cauliflower and chop into bite-sized florets. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, then place cauliflower on pan. Drizzle your cauliflower florets with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder and smoked paprika, then toss to coat. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through.

While cauliflower is roasting, dice ham and soften cream cheese on counter. (You can also microwave it for about 20 seconds if it’s not softened enough for use.) Spray a gratin dish or small baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar. Remove roasted cauliflower from oven and lightly mash with a potato masher.

Reduce heat to 375 degrees. Add cauliflower, pepper, and ham to your cream cheese mixture and stir to combine, then spread the cauliflower & cream cheese mixture evenly across the bottom of your baking dish. Top with 1 cup shredded cheddar and 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan, then bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees until cheese is nicely browned. Serve hot.

Low carb… not low fat!

Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin with ham would make a lovely holiday side dish, or a great comfort food recipe to use up some leftover ham. This is hearty and filling enough to serve as a meal with a simple salad and green veggies, and flexible enough to serve in smaller portions as a side. You won’t even miss the bread crumbs and potatoes from a traditional gratin: It’s just. that. good!

Top your Cauliflower Au Gratin with parsley or diced green onions, if desired — but it really needs little embellishment.

Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin, printable recipe

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Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin with ham

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Cauliflower Au Gratin with Ham is hearty and filling enough to serve as a meal with a simple salad and green veggies, and flexible enough to serve in smaller portions as a side.

Course side

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Rachel Singer

Ingredients

• One small head of cauliflower (about 1 lb of florets)
• Olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• A couple of slices of leftover cooked ham, diced (about 1/3 lb)
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

Instructions

• Wash cauliflower and chop into bite-sized florets.
• Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, then place cauliflower on pan.
• Drizzle your cauliflower florets with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder and smoked paprika, then toss to coat.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• While cauliflower is roasting, dice ham and soften cream cheese on counter. (You can also microwave it for about 20 seconds if it's not softened enough for use.)
• Spray a gratin dish or small baking dish with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar.
• Remove roasted cauliflower from oven and lightly mash with a potato masher.
• Reduce heat to 375 degrees.
• Add cauliflower, pepper, and ham to your cream cheese mixture and stir to combine.
• Spread the cauliflower & cream cheese mixture evenly across the bottom of your baking dish.
• Top with 1 cup shredded cheddar and 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan, then bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees until cheese is nicely browned.
• Serve hot.

Notes

This easy cheesy low carb recipe also happens to be gluten free.

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