Irene Danilovitch prepared this roasted cauliflower for a friend, who made it for me. I love the way it looks, it’s beyond easy to prepare, and it’s surprisingly delicious. Now I serve cauliflower this way all the time!
1 head cauliflower (about 2½ pounds)
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ cup panko (Japanese bread flakes)
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (see note)
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Remove the leaves and trim the stem of the cauliflower but leave the core intact. With a sharp slicing knife, cut the whole cauliflower in large (½-inch-thick) slices. Don’t worry if the slices fall apart; they’ll look like snowflakes. Place the cauliflower on a sheet pan, drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Roast the cauliflower for 15 minutes.
Toss the panko with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle on the cauliflower, and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, until tender and browned. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and roast for another minute or two. Immediately, scrape the pan with a metal spatula and toss the cauliflower and Parmesan. Serve hot or at[…]”