Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
If you’re not a fan of cauliflower (but you know you should eat more veggies), then this recipe for Cheesy Cauliflower Bake will make you fall in love with it! After all, who doesn’t love anything that’s covered in cheese? And what’s really great is even the picky eaters in your life will probably start loving cauliflower too once you start making it this way!
This cheesy cauliflower is so easy to make, too. You really only need one pan and one casserole dish. And with the holidays right around the corner, you can add this to your list of side dishes. It’s kind of like my recipe for One Pot Mac n Cheese. The most common cheese to use is cheddar, but who says you can’t switch it up and try other cheeses? You can even mix different cheeses to create your own variation. And by adding different herbs and spices you can even make it your very own creation!
Tips for Making the Best Cheesy Cauliflower
- Blanch the cauliflower well, about 6-8 minutes. You don’t want it to fall apart but you don’t want it too al dente either.
- Use a thick bottomed pan for the sauce. This will prevent scorching and having brown streaks throughout it.
- Cook the butter & flour (roux) for at least a minute on low. This will remove any starchy taste.
- Whisk the sauce often as it’s coming to a boil. This agitates the roux as it thickens and also prevents lumps.
- Season the sauce well. Cauliflower is very bland, so don’t skimp on flavor. (Remember too that cheese is salty, so taste often and don’t over season.)
- Let it rest for several minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken slightly even further and easier to dish out.
I really hope you’ll give this cheesy cauliflower a try. With the holidays around the corner, you might want to add it to your dinner repertoire. So if you do make it, leave me a comment and let me know how it turned out for you!
Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
Ingredients
- 4 cups cauliflower half of large
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter 30 grams
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower and cut into bite sized florets. Remove all tough stalks. Bring a large pot of water to a boil on high heat and add salt. When water is boiling, add the cauliflower florets and lower the heat to medium. Boil for 6-7 minutes or until cauliflower begins to feel mostly cooked. You do not want it mushy yet not too firm either. Once blanched, drain the cauliflower and transfer to a medium sized baking dish.
- Preheat oven to 375℉/190℃. In a medium saucepan, heat the butter until melted and add the all purpose flour. Stir until well combined over medium low heat until it starts to smell slightly nutty. This will take about a minute. Add the mustard powder and stir well.
- Add the milk gradually, whisking well. Once everything is combined, bring the heat to medium and whisk frequently. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat. The sauce should be smooth and creamy, Allow it to cook for about a minute then remove from heat.
- Add 1 cup of the cheese and stir well until it's completely melted. Season with salt and pepper, using more or less according to your taste. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and mix well until evenly coated. Sprinkle with the remaining half cup of cheese and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cheese on top is browned and bubbling. Rest at room temperature for several minutes before serving.