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A golden-brown cheesy cauliflower gratin served in a glass baking dish.

Cheesy Turkish Cauliflower Gratin (Karnabahar Graten)

A creamy and comforting Turkish vegetable bake featuring tender cauliflower florets in a savory yogurt-egg custard, topped with melted kashar cheese.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 328
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium Cauliflower (broken into florets)
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1 cup Milk
  • ½ cup Vegetable Oil
  • ½ cup All-purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Plain Yogurt
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • ½ bunch Fresh Parsley (finely chopped)
  • 1 cup Kashar Cheese or Mozzarella, grated
  • Salt (to taste)

Equipment

  • Large Pot: For par-boiling the cauliflower florets.
  • 9x13 Rectangular Baking Dish (Borcam): For the final bake.
  • Large Mixing Bowl & Whisk: To create the homogeneous yogurt sauce.
  • Box Grater: For shredding the kashar or mozzarella cheese.

Method
 

  1. Boil cauliflower florets in salted water for 5-7 mins until par-cooked but firm.
    Boiling fresh cauliflower florets in a large pot.
  2. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, yogurt, and oil until smooth and homogeneous.
    Whisking yogurt, eggs, and milk for a gratin sauce.
  3. Sift in the flour and add cumin, black pepper, salt, and chopped parsley.
    Adding cumin and fresh parsley to the yogurt custard.
  4. Fold the drained cauliflower into the sauce, ensuring every piece is coated.
    Mixing boiled cauliflower with a creamy yogurt and egg sauce.
  5. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and spread evenly.
    Pouring the cauliflower mixture into a greased Borcam.
  6. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 30 mins until the custard sets.
    Baking cauliflower gratin in a preheated 190 degree oven.
  7. Top with grated cheese and bake for 10 more mins until melted and bubbly.
    Adding grated kashar cheese on top of a cauliflower bake.

Video

Notes

For an extra crispy topping, mix a tablespoon of breadcrumbs with the grated cheese before sprinkling it on top. Serve this dish warm at around 60-70°C (140-158°F) to enjoy the perfect balance of creamy sauce and melty cheese!