Bacon & Smoky Paprika Cauliflower

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by 365daysofbacon

Bacon & Smoky Paprika Cauliflower

A good cauliflower recipe can be hard to find.

Bacon makes it easier.

I really want to love cauliflower. But…

I find it to be one of the least attractive veggies, and I’m often deterred from eating it for silly reasons such as:

1. raw cauliflower tastes gross; it must be cooked, with flavors
2. raw cauliflower crumbles everywhere & makes a mess
3. raw cauliflower isn’t linear when you try to break it off or chop it with a knife

(Does anyone else have these aversions, or is it just me?)

I’m very excited to say that I’ve found another cauliflower recipe that is worth the “hassle” … which really isn’t that much of a hassle.

Of course, it involves bacon.  🙂

(Other cauliflower recipes that are worth the effort are Bacon Cauliflower Fried “Rice” and Bacon & Blue Cheese Cauliflower Mashed Faux-tatoes)

 

Bacon & Smoky Paprika Cauliflower

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tbsp bacon grease
• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 tbsp paprika (smoked paprika preferred)
• salt & pepper, to taste
• (optional) bacon crumbles

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fry bacon, remove from pan, set aside on paper towels (in freezer to get extra crunchy), reserve bacon grease.
2. Chop or pull cauliflower florets from base stem/leaves. Chop into 2-3 inch clusters. Preheat oven to 375.
3. Flash fry paprika in bacon grease on low heat 3-5 minutes, or until paprika blends with oil and becomes sauce-like.
4. Start by frying large pieces of cauliflower in pan 5 minutes (keep the little crumbles separate for now), stirring to coat in paprika oil.
5. Transfer cauliflower to oven, adding small pieces, and bake additional 15+ minutes, until desired tenderness. Stir halfway to recoat cauliflower.