Go Back
+ servings
Cauliflower Cheese

Cauliflower Cheese

Delicious and creamy Cauliflower Cheese dish using roasted cauliflower and rich Mornay sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine British
Servings 4 servings
Calories 604 kcal

Equipment

  • oven
  • Baking dish
  • Saucepan
  • mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

Roasted cauliflower

  • 1 kg cauliflower florets 1 very large, 1 ½ medium or 2 small heads
  • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • teaspoon pepper

Cheese sauce (Mornay sauce)

  • 60 g unsalted butter
  • 3.5 tablespoon flour plain / all-purpose
  • 1 cup milk full fat best
  • 1 cup cream or more milk
  • ½ teaspoon cooking salt kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder freshly grated is best
  • 1 cup Red Leicester cheese or cheddar, grated
  • ½ cup gruyère cheese or other melting cheese of choice, grated

Topping

  • ½ cup Red Leicester cheese or cheddar, grated
  • ½ cup gruyère cheese or other melting cheese of choice, grated

Instructions
 

Roasted cauliflower

  • Preheat oven to 220°C / 430°F (200°C fan).
  • Toss cauliflower in oil, salt and pepper. Spread on a large tray.
  • Roast 20 minutes (don't turn). Cauliflower should still be a bit firm, but with some colour on them. Remove from oven.
  • Turn oven down to 180°C/350°F.

Cheese sauce (Mornay sauce)

  • Heat milk and cream until hot – either on the stove or in microwave.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan or small pot over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring regularly, for 3 minutes.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Add cauliflower and toss to coat in the sauce.

Bake

  • Transfer mixture to a 2L / 2qt baking dish (30 x 20 x 5cm / 12 x 8 x 2').
  • Sprinkle over gruyère followed by Red Leicester cheese.
  • Bake at 180°C/350°F for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted, and cauliflower is bubbly and golden.
  • Sprinkle with parsley if desired. Stand 5 minutes then serve!

Notes

Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Freezer not recommended.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 604kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 20gFat: 52gSaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 876mgPotassium: 758mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1580IUVitamin C: 97mgCalcium: 495mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Baked Dish, Cauliflower Cheese, cheesy cauliflower, Comfort Food, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!