Learn how to make cauliflower and cheese, the beautifully creamy side dish that’s full of flavor
Cauliflower often gets a bad rap, which we think is a shame. It’s a nutritious vegetable that – when cooked right – can be utterly delicious.
Unfortunately, though, most of us grew up eating cauliflower that had been boiled to death. The result was a soggy, unappetizing side dish that put some of us off cauliflower for life!
If you’re one of them, then we urge you to give this recipe a try – it’ll change the way you see this versatile vegetable.
The secret is in the roasting
Instead of being boiled, the cauliflower in this recipe is roasted. Roasting is hands down the best way to cook cauliflower – it brings out its natural sweetness in a way no other cooking method can.
It also produces deliciously tender florets, rather than the watery, mushy ones you may recall from childhood.
The baked cauliflower is then topped with a rich and creamy cheese sauce. We think you’ll agree that the two make an unbeatable combination.
What to eat with cauliflower and cheese
This dish is great served as a side with a protein such as chicken, fish or even ham.
But you can serve it all by itself as a main meal if you choose. You might like to add in a few extra ingredients to make it more substantial – try cubed cooked chicken, or chopped pancetta with cherry tomatoes. Yum!
More great ways with cauliflower
Whilst we love cauliflower and cheese, there are lots of other wonderful ways to prepare this vegetable that taste amazing.
This Creamy Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Soup is a soul-warming comfort food that’s paleo friendly, whilst this Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower recipe creates a very simple, but very tasty, snack.
Or for something a little different, why not try this Indian Cauliflower Pizza recipe? It’s surprisingly good! Or these Cauliflower Fritters, which taste incredible topped with hummus.
Cauliflower and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 cups Bechamel Sauce
- 2 cups Gruyere Cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 pinch of Ground Cayenne Pepper
- 1 large head Cauliflower cut into florets
- 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Coarse Sea Salt
- Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Whisk the cheese, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper into warm bechamel sauce. Cover and keep warm.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Toss the cauliflower with the olive oil, salt and pepper and spread on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Roast for 10 minutes, stir, then continue to roast for around 10 minutes more, until tender.
- Serve topped with the cheese sauce.