Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and ensure the rack is in the middle position.
- Heat the 2 tbsp (30 ml) of oil over medium heat in a large skillet; once hot, sauté the 2 lbs (907g) of chopped chicken for 5 to 6 minutes until just about cooked through, then remove the chicken to a clean plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet used for the chicken, sauté the diced onion and minced garlic for 3 to 5 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add the 6 cups (454g) of broccoli florets and approximately 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) of water to the skillet, cooking while stirring occasionally for 3 to 5 minutes until the broccoli is bright green and slightly tender.
- While the broccoli cooks, combine the 5 cups (500g) of cauliflower florets, 1 cup (240 ml) of coconut milk, and 1 cup (240 ml) of chicken stock in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes until the cauliflower is fork-tender.
- Transfer the cauliflower and cooking liquid to a food processor or use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until completely smooth and no lumps remain.
- If the sauce is too thick, gradually add more chicken stock in 0.25 cup (60 ml) increments to reach your desired consistency, though a thicker sauce works best for this casserole.
- Mix in the 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp curry powder, 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper, and salt and black pepper to taste into the cauliflower puree.
- Place the sautéed broccoli-onion mixture and the cooked chicken into a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) casserole dish or similar-size ovenproof dish.
- Pour the cauliflower cream sauce over the chicken and vegetables, stirring gently to combine everything well.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with the 0.5 tsp paprika for color and flavor.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the top is slightly browned and the sauce is bubbly around the edges.
- Don't Overcook the Broccoli: When sautéing the broccoli in step 4, aim for "crisp-tender" rather than fully soft. The broccoli will continue to cook in the oven. If it's too soft going in, it will become mushy after baking.
Control the Sauce Consistency: When blending the cauliflower sauce, add the extra chicken stock slowly. You want a consistency similar to a thick alfredo or condensed soup so it coats the ingredients without making the casserole watery.
Rotisserie Hack: To save 10 minutes of prep time, you can use 4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken instead of cooking raw chicken breast. Just skip step 2 and add the cooked chicken directly to the casserole dish.
Boost the Browning: If you want a crustier top without cheese, try sprinkling a mixture of almond flour and nutritional yeast on top before adding the paprika in step 11.
