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Cauliflower cheese

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  • Egg free
  • Nut free
  • Peanut free
  • Sesame free
  • Soy free
  • Shellfish free
  • Seafood free
  • No added sugar
  • Vegetarian
  • High in protein
  • 2 serves veg or fruit

Who doesn’t love cheesy cauliflower? Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a Sunday roast, serve up a side of this golden, crispy cauliflower cheese bake.

  • Serves8
  • Cook time40 minutes
  • Prep time10 minutes
Cauliflower Cheese

Ingredients

  • 1 large (900g) cauliflower
  • 90g butter
  • 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
  • 4 cups (1L) milk
  • 1 tbs Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbs wholegrain mustard
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Pinch ground nutmeg
  • Pinch ground chilli (optional)
  • 2 cups (240g) shredded tasty cheese
  • 1/3 cup (25g) panko breadcrumbs
  • Mixed salad leaves, to serve

Nutritional information

Per serve: Energy: 1588kJ/380 Cals (18%), Protein: 16g (32%), Fat: 26g (37%), Sat Fat: 17g (71%), Sodium: 518mg (23%), Carb: 22g (7%), Sugar: 12g (13%), Dietary Fibre: 2g (7%).

Check ingredient labels to make sure they meet your specific dietary requirements and always consult a health professional before changing your diet. View dietary information here.

Percentage Daily Intake information on our recipes is calculated using the nutrition reference values for an average Australian adult.

Method

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 230°C. Place a large baking tray in the oven for 5 mins to preheat.

  2. Step 2

    Use a large sharp knife to cut the cauliflower into small florets and cut stalks into 2cm cubes. Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on the hot baking tray. Season. Spray with oil. Roast for 25 mins or until crisp.

  3. Step 3

    Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 min or until mixture becomes grainy. While constantly stirring, gradually add the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, for 4-5 mins or until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Add the mustard, salt, nutmeg, chilli and 1/2 cup of the cheese and whisk for 2 mins or until cheese melts. Season.

  4. Step 4

    Add cauliflower to the cheese sauce and toss gently to coat. Pour into an 8-cup (2L) ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and remaining cheese.

  5. Step 5

    Bake for 15-20 mins or until cheese and breadcrumbs are golden. Serve cauliflower cheese with salad.

Recipe tip

COOK. STORE. SAVE.
Clever storage: The roast cauliflower and cheese sauce can be made in advance. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days before you’re ready to bake. 

 Cauliflower cheese recipe

If you’re craving something hearty, warming and comforting, you can’t look past a classic vegetarian cauliflower cheese bake. It features roast cauliflower covered in a delicious homemade cheese sauce and topped with golden breadcrumbs for a crowd-pleaser side dish that feeds eight. While this recipe certainly looks impressive, it’s deceptively easy to make and uses no-fuss ingredients you’re likely to have sitting in your fridge or pantry, such as milk, mustard, breadcrumbs and flour. You only need to set aside 10 minutes of prep time – then you simply pop the dish in the oven to cook.

How to make a cheesy cauliflower bake

Making a baked cheesy cauliflower can be broken down into three main steps: roasting the cauliflower, preparing the cheese sauce, and baking the final dish. Begin by roasting the cauliflower in the oven. Arrange florets and stalks in a single layer to allow each piece to turn a golden brown colour. While the cauliflower is baking, use the time to create the easy and creamy cauliflower cheese sauce. It’s as simple as cooking butter, flour and milk in a saucepan, constantly stirring for a smooth, lump-free consistency. We use shredded tasty cheese, as it’s great for melting and has a mild flavour that doesn’t overpower the rest of the dish. When it comes to adding the cauliflower and sauce together, gently toss so each floret is coated evenly.

Baked cauliflower with cheese: The ultimate side dish

You’ll know it’s ready to serve when the cauliflower cheese bake is bubbling, golden all over and the cheese has melted. We serve our best cauliflower cheese recipe with a simple mixed leaf salad, but it also pairs beautifully alongside a number of main dishes. Some of our favourites include roast beef, crispy pork belly, a chicken tray bake or a simple steak.

Love this recipe?

For more comforting side dishes and bakes, try our hash brown potato bake, rainbow root vegetable gratin, Curtis Stone’s sausage and cornbread stuffing or these hasselback sweet potatoes.  

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