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Broccoli-Chevre Bake

It’s no secret that I sometimes scheme to find ways to get the veggies down. Last week I made a cauliflower mousse out of cauliflower puree and eggs. I barely could tell there was cauliflower in there at all…my kind of vegetable dish! Tonight, I decided to see how deftly I could slide broccoli under the taste bud radar and I’m happy to say, I DID IT! Even Chef Bill, who borderline dislikes broccoli couldn’t stop eating this – what an endorsement!

And it was easy. All that’s required is a bag of frozen broccoli, a log of chevre, olive oil, preserved Meyer lemons (or lemon juice) and a food processor. That’s it for a carb-free dinner or delicious vegetable side dish. Because the chevre and broccoli emulsify together during the baking process, this doesn’t have as much of a sharp tang as, say, chevre would right out of the fridge. Here’s to dining on cruciferous veggies…with pleasure:

Broccoli-Chevre Bake

(Makes a large casserole dish, because I like to freeze individual servings. Recipe can easily be halved)

Preheat oven to 325

1 two-pound bag of broccoli florets, thawed

1 11-ounce log of chevre (goat cheese)

Extra virgin olive oil

2 Tablespoons preserved Meyer lemon or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

* Optional: whip 2 or 3 eggs into the mixture for a fluffier texture and more protein. I’ve tried both ways and prefer the casserole without eggs because it lends a more intense, cheesy flavor.

In a food processor, blend some of the florets with a few sliced medallions of chevre in batches.

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As food processor is running, drizzle enough olive oil into the mixture to emulsify it. Consistency should be a thick paste, not liquidy.

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Place pureed mixture in a mixing bowl and continue to puree the rest of it in batches until completed. Spray a covered casserole dish with cooking spray and spoon broccoli-chevre mixture into the casserole. Bake 15 minutes covered, and 15 minutes uncovered. If casserole feels dry when served, drizzle a bit more olive oil on top.

The fluffier version, with eggs

The fluffier version, with eggs

And the more dense, intensely flavored version, without eggs

And the more dense, intensely flavored version, without eggs

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