PIERRE DIVAN BLANC

 Chicken divan is usually broccoli layered with chicken in a white sauce that’s been mixed with mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce and dispersed with cheeses. When I make that I often add oysters and mushrooms. However this recipe was inspired in that I had cauliflower not broccoli, left over turkey, not chicken, and some nice white cheeses. You will need:

§        2 cups of largely diced cooked turkey breast and white meat

§        1 cup of Swiss cheese grated

§        1 cup of extra sharp white cheddar

§        plenty of dry or grated parmesan cheese

§        1 cup of mayonnaise divided in half

§        ½ cup sour cream

§        about 3 oz of cream cheese

§        1 head of cauliflower

§        2 cups of white sauce (see instructions)

§        and one lovely white French looking 1.5 qt. casserole dish given to you by your friend last Christmas.

 WHITE SAUCE

·        3 tbsp butter or margarine

·        3 tbsp flour

·        2 cups of milk

·        salt to taste. Forgo the nutmeg for this recipe

     Warm the milk to very warm in the microwave. Melt the butter in a sauce pan, add some salt and add the flour whisking in. Over the heat pour the milk slowly until all is in and blended, then continue to a boil just to thicken. Remove from heat or lower heat to very low.

     OK now back to the divan. Core and wash your cauliflower and cut into pieces about 1 inch or just larger. Steam the cauliflower until tender. Now go mix your grated cheeses. Be sure your turkey is cut about 1 inch pieces and salt a bit if needed. Add ½ cup of mayo to the turkey and blend in. add 1/3  of the grated cheeses to the turkey and mix all well. 

  Go to your white sauce and melt into it the cream cheese on a low heat blending smooth with a whisk. After its melted in add the sour cream to the sauce and the other ½ cup of mayo. Blend smooth with a whisk. Add a tiny more milk if its too thick. You want it to just pouring stage. 

   Grease your casserole and place a thin layer of sauce in the bottom. Arrange the cauliflower pieces one layer deep with the heads up. 

     Ladle about a third of the sauce over the cauliflower layer, and sprinkle with half the grated cheese left,  and Parmesan cheese. Add the turkey mayo mixture as the second layer, and ladle the remaining sauce over it. Using a knife open up side pockets and in the middle too, to let a bit of sauce drain down inside if it seems to be just sitting on top. Add the remaining grated cheese, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

     Bake in a 350° F oven covered for about 25 minutes. Uncover and bake another 25 to 30 minutes until it just barely starts to toast to a golden on top. Serve warm. This turned out to be a great looking dish and wonderful tasting

Pierre Divan Blanc with Slow Roasted Winter Carrots

Blessings mes amis