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Side View of Cauliflower Cheese In Red Dish
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4.56 from 9 votes

Cauliflower Cheese Recipe

Cauliflower served in a creamy cheese sauce and baked until crispy on top. Can be enjoyed as a main dish, for lunch or dinner, or served as an accompaniment to a range of meals. 
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Meal
Cuisine: British
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 401kcal
Author: Amy

Ingredients

  • 1 Large Cauliflower
  • 55g (½ stick) Butter
  • 36g (4 tbsp) Plain (all purpose) Flour
  • 500ml (2 cups) Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 115g (1 cup) Strong Mature Cheddar (grated) * SEE NOTE 1
  • 25g (½ cup) Panko Breadcrumbs * SEE NOTE 2

Instructions

  • Remove the base and outer leaves from the cauliflower, break into florets and wash. 
  • Place the florets into a pan of boiling water and boil for approx 5 mins, until tender. (*SEE NOTE 3)
  • Drain the cauliflower in a colander and set it aside. 
  • Meanwhile, make your sauce.
    Melt butter in a saucepan and add the flour to form a roux, stir continuously for about 3 minutes.
  • Add milk a little at a time, keep stirring/whisking continuously between each pour. Stir out any lumps before adding more milk. Continue adding the milk little by little until all the milk is incorporated and the sauce is thick and glossy.
  • Take off the heat and stir in the mustard and three-quarters of the cheese (reserving the rest for the topping.)
  • Place the cauliflower florets in a baking dish that is just large enough to hold the florets in one layer.
  • Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and gently mix to ensure all the florets are covered
  • Cover with the breadcrumbs and remaining cheese. Broil (grill) until the top is browned and bubbly. (*SEE NOTE 4 for heating instructions if making ahead of time)

Notes

  1. I always use a mature cheddar to make a cheese sauce. I find it produces the best flavour and you don’t have to add so much to get the desired flavour.
  2. Breadcrumbs are optional, they give a lovely crispy topping and makes the dish look visually more appealing. 
  3. Test the cauliflower with a knife. The knife should go in easily but the cauliflower should cleave to the knife and not fall apart. 
  4.  If you are making this dish ahead of time, to serve it later in the day, cover the dish and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve (do not add the breadcrumbs and cheese for the top at this stage). Preheat oven to 180C / 355F.  Cover the top with the cheese and breadcrumbs just before baking and bake for approx 30 minutes. The top should be brown and bubbling and piping hot in the centre.
  5. If cooking for a baby/ young toddler you can reduce the amount of cheese you add, to lower the sodium levels. 
Nutritional Information is a ROUGH guide only, calculated using an online nutrition calculator. 

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 842mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 835IU | Vitamin C: 101.2mg | Calcium: 410mg | Iron: 1.8mg