If you are looking for a simple, quick yet extremely delicious side dish for your roast dinner, this Cauliflower Cheese Recipe is perfect for you. I promise this underrated British comfort food will turn the whole family into cauliflower lovers!
The first time I tried this cheesy cauliflower dish was when I came to London back in 2008. It was served as a side dish with my Sunday roast dinner and since then it has been my favourite accompaniment for a roast. This delicious cauliflower bake is not just a side dish but also a tasty vegetarian main meal when served with some nice crusty bread and a bowl of salad on the side.
This ultimate British comfort food has many variations. Some variations have sautéed bacon and mushrooms, and some have English mustard, parmesan or Gruyere cheese. You can customise your own cauliflower cheese or just follow my simple yet delicious recipe.
How to Make Cauliflower Cheese?
This is a very simple recipe with few easy steps that you need to follow to achieve the best results:
- Prepare and parboil the cauliflower – Trim the cauliflower and then cut it into bite-size florets. In a large pan, bring enough water to boil and cook the florets for 6 to 8 minutes, until firm but tender. Put the florets in a colander and let them drain while preparing the cheese sauce. Preheat the fan oven to 180° C and then start making the cheese sauce.
- Prepare the cheese sauce – To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat and stir in the flour. Mix well using a wooden spatula or a whisk and cook for two minutes stirring all the time. Whisk in a little of the warm milk at a time stirring continuously until you have a smooth, velvety sauce. Cook on low heat for few minutes stirring all the time until the sauce has thickened and the flour taste has disappeared. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the salt, nutmeg and 100 g grated cheddar cheese. Although this dish is traditionally made with cheddar cheese, you can replace it with any other hard cheese you like.
- Combine and bake – place the drained cauliflowers in a 23 cm Ø oven dishand pour the cheese sauce over. Give it a quick stir to combine the cheese sauce with the cauliflower. Sprinkle the 50 grams grated cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs on top and place the oven dish in preheated oven. Cook it for about 35-40 minutes, until it’s bubbling inside and golden brown outside.
Cauliflower cheese is the best accompaniment for roast dinners whether it is family Sunday lunch or a big celebrational Christmas dinner. It also goes great with roast or grilled meat or sausages. Alternatively, you can serve it as a vegetarian main meal with some bread and salad. Try pairing this delicious cheesy cauliflower with Bazlama(Turkish Flatbread) or a slice of Homemade Toast Bread and a bowl of Greek Salad or Tomato and Walnut Salad (Gavurdagi Salatasi).
Yes, you can make the cauliflower cheese one or two days in advance and keep it in the fridge until you want to bake it. Make sure you take the dish out of the fridge an hour before baking in order to bring it to room temperature.
You can reheat leftover cauliflower cheese in the microwave for 2 minutes on medium heat. Alternatively, you can reheat it in preheated oven for 10 to 25 minutes or until piping hot in an oven-safe dish. Make sure to cover it with tin foil or a lid to avoid it over-browning.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this baked Cauliflower & Cheese dish as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun!
Cauliflower Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower (around 800 grams)
- 60 g butter
- 60 g all-purpose flour
- 550 ml milk (full fat or semi-skimmed)
- ½ TSP salt
- pinch of nutmeg
- 150 g cheddar cheese (100 g+50 g separately) (grated)
- 20 g breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Cut the cauliflower into florets and cook in boiling water for 6-8 minutes, until firm but tender.
- Put the florets in a colander and let them drain while preparing the cheese sauce.
- Preheat the fan oven to 180° C.
- To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat and stir in the flour.
- Mix well using a wooden spatula or a whisk and cook for two minutes stirring all the time.
- Whisk in a little of the warm milk at a time stirring continuously until you have a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Cook on low heat for few minutes stirring all the time until the sauce has thickened and the flour taste has disappeared.
- Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the salt, nutmeg and 100 g grated cheddar cheese.
- Place the drained cauliflowers in a 23 cm Ø oven dish and pour the cheese sauce over. Give it a quick stir to combine the cheese sauce with the cauliflower.
- Sprinkle the 50 grams grated cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs on top of the cauliflowers.
- Place the oven dish in preheated oven and cook for about 35-40 minutes, until it's bubbling inside and golden brown outside.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I love cauliflower-cheese ! as a side or main, works either ways.
Hi Annabel
I can’t agree more. It is such a simple dish yet satisfying 🙂