cauliflower & carrots braised in milk

creamed carrots & cauliflower

Sometimes it’s perfectly natural to take a couple side dishes and make them the main meal, right? I think so. Last week, I wanted to make something creamy and comforting with what vegetables I had on hand: 2 different types of carrots (one yellow, one orange) and a head of cauliflower. Soup would have been the obvious choice, but I wanted something a bit more unusual. These “creamed” vegetables were the result. And while you could easily pair this with a substantial entree for a hearty meal, I chose a salad because sometimes you want nothing more than a big bowl full of vegetables.

creamed carrots & cauliflower

I chopped up the vegetables, along with some onion and celery, and sauteed them in a bit of butter. Instead of braising these in vegetable stock, I went a different route and used milk. I had 3% homogenized whole milk, but I’m sure skim would work just as nicely here. The resulting dish was creamy and comforting without feeling heavy. Have turnips, cabbage or potatoes instead? Go for it! This isn’t anything fancy for your dinner table, but it’s simple to prepare, easily adaptable, and it’s a charmer for these colder days.

creamed carrots & cauliflower

elsewhere: Looking for more braised vegetables? Head on over to Poppytalk where last week I wrote about preparing mustard greens and chard. Top with a poached egg and you’ve got a wonderful meal.

27 comments to “cauliflower & carrots braised in milk”

  1. 1
    Kitty (My Husband Hates Veggies)   November 1, 2010 at 11:39 am

    mmmm…seems like the perfect hearty-yet-healthy windy day lunch

  2. 2
    Briana   November 1, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    That sounds delicious. Thanks for validating my frequent feeling that vegetables are all I want for dinner!

  3. 3
    Eva   November 1, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    This meal looks really great, super comforting food! I think I’ll make it this weekend and pair it with some slow cooked beef. Nice recipe and keeps us thinking outside the box of normal!

  4. 4
    Gemma   November 1, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    The heat just went on in my apartment for the first time this year. This sounds like a great dish to put on the menu for this week!

  5. 5
    kickpleat   November 1, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    Thanks Kitty! It is 🙂

    Briana, yes please! I love eating just vegetables for dinner and this is a nice way to get them into the belly 🙂

    Thanks Eva – this would pair so well with beef. Sounds like a great idea for dinner!

    Gemma, we still haven’t turned on the heat here which is good, so this meal is the nicest warm-up! Hope you enjoy it.

  6. 6
    Joanne   November 2, 2010 at 3:14 am

    I often want nothing more than a bowl full of vegetables so this sounds fantastic to me!

  7. 7
    Cate   November 2, 2010 at 4:22 am

    This looks scrumptious. It reminds me a bit of a dish I make called Rumblethumps. It is boiled potatoes, cabbage and leeks then mixed together with a bit of nutmeg and salt and pepper and then placed in a baking dish with grated cheese on top and oven cooked until cheese is melted and and vegetables hot.

  8. 8
    Maddie   November 2, 2010 at 11:20 am

    I was just thinking how sad it was that I’d never braised a thing in my life. I’ll have to start here — it looks like a very approachable recipe, and plus, your recipes always turn out well for me. 🙂

  9. 9
    heather   November 2, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve never heard of such a recipe, but I’m definitely eager to try. Maybe I’ll do an entire meal of braising in milk with Jamie Oliver’s chicken! Challenge accepted.

    Cheers,

    *Heather*

  10. 10
    CookiePie   November 2, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Ooooo – I love this. I always just roast everything, love this creamy, interesting way to cook the veggies. thanks!

  11. 11
    Nicole   November 2, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I’ve braised brussel sprouts in cream, but I feel like I can only make that once a year due to its unhealthiness. I’d love to try it using skim milk and your veggies look great!

  12. 12
    EmLue   November 2, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Hi there! This is cooking on the stove right now… should be done soon and smells delicious.Normally I hate cooked vegetables (they always taste so mushy, yuck) but I just taste-tested a couple bites and I think this may become a go-to “healthy recipe”.
    And also, I have to say I started reading your blog almost a year ago (9 more days to the 1-yr anniversary, lol) and you are the one who got me hooked on baking blogs.. I had never read a single one till I found your lemon cornmeal shortbread cookie post and now I check 5 of them daily and a couple more at random intervals. Reading the blogs made me catch the baking bug – if I don’t bake at least once a week, I start itching to get back in the kitchen.
    Your blog is truly fantastic. 🙂

  13. 13
    kickpleat   November 2, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Joanne, then this is an ideal dish for you 🙂 I often feel the same way.

    Cate, the name alone has me smitten.

    Maddie, I’m sure you have but never called it a braise. Braise just seems so fashionable this year 😉

    Yes, Heather, this would go so well with that chicken dish. Yummers!!!

    CookiePie, me too. It’s nice to get out of the roasting rut.

    Nicole, I’ve done that too and this is much healthier and just as tasty and comforting. Enjoy!

    EmLue, Hooray! I hope you enjoy it and I’m glad it smells delicious. I can imagine. Thank you so much for your email, you’ve made my evening. totally.

  14. 14
    Briana   November 3, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    So I made this the same day I commented and it was delicious! My husband and I loved it, my 5 year old ate it, and… well, my 16 month old picked at it, but 3 out of 4 aint bad at my house! 🙂

  15. 15
    Annie   November 3, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Had such an awful day today. Bad headache, overall grumpiness, feeling exhausted. I just made this at 9:45 p.m. and am enjoying a bowl. Best I’ve felt all day! Totally what I needed. Thanks. 🙂

  16. 16
    Daphne   November 4, 2010 at 1:56 am

    Kids would love to eat this! It’s so colorful. Ooh, by the way love your blog layout.. 😀

  17. 17
    bonniebonnielass   November 4, 2010 at 8:18 am

    I love a big bowl of veggies and these look yummy.

  18. 18
    sherley   November 4, 2010 at 11:43 am

    thanks so much for this recipe. We just had this for dinner, so scrumptious. We’re full but hungry for more 🙂 can’t wait to see what next you’re making.

  19. 19
    Ryan @ Macarons   November 4, 2010 at 11:59 am

    My mother used to make something similar to this, but added in cheese that set it over the top! Great snack,..mmmm.

    ryan

  20. 20
    Daily Spud   November 4, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Ooh I like this. I like it a lot. It seems just about perfect for autumn and those days where I, too, crave a bowlful of vegetable goodness.

  21. 21
    Bijoux   November 4, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    Perfect timing! I’ve had a head of cauliflower in the fridge all week and have not been inspired to make anything with it. Oh, and I have a bunch of carrots too that have seen better days 🙂 Good thing my husband doesn’t like cauliflower so this will be all mine 🙂

  22. 22
    Rachel   November 5, 2010 at 10:49 am

    mmm unusual and delicious. Improvisation produces some amazing dishes!

  23. 23
    redmenace   November 5, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    I think this sounds perfectly wonderful for a hearty dinner. I love that it’s so good for you too. I need things like this right now. Thanks so much! Braised in milk too. Yum!

  24. 24
    April-Living the Sweet Life   November 8, 2010 at 11:40 am

    What a great fall harvest meal. I love that is has cayenne in it. I tend to add a bit of heat to my recipes. I love spicy food.

  25. 25
    kristy   November 9, 2010 at 8:53 am

    Hi. I tried this recipe and it didn’t turn out for me at all i used too much milk. so i pour the whole thing into the blender and made it into soup and added a bit of cheese on top. cool idea. thx.

  26. 26
    kickpleat   November 10, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Briana, glad to hear it was a family favorite. Hooray.

    Annie, yes! This is the definition of comfort, glad it helped brighten the day.

    Thanks Daphne & Bonniebonnielass!

    Sherley, glad to hear it!

    Ryan, adding cheese would certainly lift this up to a whole new level!

    DailySpud, it’s perfect for those chilly vegetable craving days 🙂

    I hope you liked this, Bijoux!

    Thanks Rachel, indeed.

    Thanks redmenace, it is good and a bit of an unusual twist.

    I always like to add a bit of heat, April. Enjoy!

    Kristy, at least you made do and created a great soup. Sounds yummy!

  27. 27
    Ashley   January 17, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Mmm I know I’d love this! I often take side dishes and make them into meals too.

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