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Cauliflower cheese

Cauliflower baked in mustardy cheese sauce

Cauliflower cheese is the bubbling, golden side that appears beside the Sunday roast in English homes, and on its own it makes a comforting vegetarian supper with crusty bread. Tender cauliflower is baked under a mustardy cheddar sauce with a crisp, browned top. Many cheddars are made with animal rennet, so use a vegetarian mature cheddar. Chef's tip: steam the cauliflower and let it dry; wet florets water down the sauce.
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Fresh ingredients (3)

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Steam the 1 cauliflower for 6–8 minutes until just tender to a knife, then spread on a tray to steam dry.

    10 min
  2. Step 2: Melt the 1 ⅜ oz butter, stir in the 1 ⅜ oz plain flour and cook 1 minute, then whisk in the 2 cups milk a little at a time. Simmer 3 minutes, whisking, until thick and smooth.

    7 min
  3. Step 3: Off the heat stir in the 1 tsp English mustard, two-thirds of the 3 ½ oz mature cheddar (vegetarian), the 1 pinch grated nutmeg, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. A common mistake is boiling the sauce after the cheese goes in, which makes it stringy.

    2 min
  4. Step 4: Put the cauliflower in a baking dish, pour over the sauce and scatter with the rest of the 1 ¾ oz mature cheddar (vegetarian) and the 3 tbsp breadcrumbs.

    3 min
  5. Step 5: Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbling and golden brown on top.

    25 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
380 kcal
Protein
18 g
Carbs
18 g
Fat
27 g
Fibre
4 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does cauliflower cheese take?
About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
What can I use instead of cauliflower?
Broccoli, same weight.
What can I use instead of butter?
The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).

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