Cauliflower Cheese
Total Time
1 hour and 10 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Rating
4.99 out of 5 stars
(88)
Ingredients
5 servings
- 1kg / 2 lb cauliflower florets (1 very large, 1 1/2 medium or 2 small cauliflower heads, Note 1)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 60g / 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3½ tbsp flour (, plain / all-purpose)
- 1 cup milk (full fat best)
- 1 cup cream (or more milk)
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt (kosher salt)
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder (freshly grated is best)
- 1 cup Red Leicester cheese (or cheddar), grated (Note 2)
- 1/2 cup gruyère cheese (, grated (or other melting cheese of choice, Note 2)
- 1/2 cup Red Leicester cheese (or cheddar), grated (Note 2)
- 1/2 cup gruyère cheese (, grated (or other melting cheese of choice, Note 2)
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Preparation
Step 1
Roasted cauliflower:
Step 2
Preheat oven to 220°C / 430°F (200°C fan).
Step 3
Toss cauliflower in oil, salt and pepper. Spread on a large tray.
Step 4
Roast 20 minutes (don't turn). Cauliflower should still be a bit firm, but with some colour on them. Remove from oven.
Step 5
Turn oven down to 180°C/350°F.
Step 6
Cheese sauce (Mornay sauce):
Step 7
Heat milk: Heat milk and cream until hot – either on the stove or in microwave.
Step 8
Make roux: Melt butter in a large saucepan or small pot over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring regularly, for 3 minutes.
Step 9
Add milk: While stirring, pour in half the milk. Once the roux is dissolved into the milk (mixture will thicken), stir in remaining milk. Stir on the heat for 1 minute – mixture should be thick enough to coat a wooden spoon.
Step 10
Add cheese: Turn the stove off, but leave the pot on the turned off stove. Stir in salt, nutmeg and both cheeses. The cheese will thicken the mixture so it's like a thick sauce.
Step 11
Mix in cauliflower: Add cauliflower and toss to coat in the sauce.
Step 12
Bake:
Step 13
Fill baking dish: Transfer mixture to a 2L / 2qt baking dish (30 x 20 x 5cm / 12 x 8 x 2").
Step 14
Top with cheese: Sprinkle over gruyère followed Red Leicester cheese.
Step 15
Bake at 180°C/350°F for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted, and cauliflower is bubbly and golden.
Step 16
Serve: Sprinkle with parsley if desired. Stand 5 minutes then serve!
Step 17
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