Cauliflower Cheese Pie

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated raw potatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/4-1/2 cup grated onion
• extra virgin olive oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 3/4-1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 medium cauliflower, broken into small florets
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 cups grated gruyere cheese
• paprika, for sprinkling

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 400°f.
• 2 generously grease a 9-inch pie pan.
• 3 to make potato crust, place 2 firmly packed cups grated raw potatoes in a colander placed over a bowl, toss the potatoes with 1/2 tsp salt, and set aside for 10 minutes.
• 4 squeeze out the excess water.
• 5 combine the drained potatoes, beaten egg, and grated onion in a medium bowl.
• 6 pat the potato mixture into the greased pie pan, building up the sides of the crust with lightly floured fingers.
• 7 bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown, brushing the crust with oil after the first 20 minutes to help crisp it.
• 8 remove crust from the oven, and reduce the temperature to 350°f.
• 9 meanwhile, to make filling, beat together the eggs, milk, 1/2 tsp of the salt, and the pepper in a small bowl, and set aside.
• 10 blanch cauliflower.
• 11 melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• 12 add the cauliflower, onions, garlic, and 1/4-1/2 tsp of the remaining salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• 13 add the parsley, basil, and thyme, and cook, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 14 remove from the heat.
• 15 layer the baked potato crust with half of the cheese, then the cauliflower mixture, then the remaining cheese.
• 16 pour the milk-egg mixture over the top and lightly dust with paprika.
• 17 bake for 35-40 minutes or until set.
• 18 remove from the oven and serve.