Andy Montoya
Cauliflower cheese is a delicious and indulgent dish that can be served as a vegetarian main course or a side dish. The traditional recipe involves coating boiled or steamed cauliflower in a cheese sauce, which is typically made with a roux—a mixture of butter and flour—and milk. However, it is possible to make a delicious cauliflower cheese without flour. This can be achieved by making a cornflour slurry, adding milk, and then whisking in cheese to create a thick sauce. This method is perfect for those who are gluten-intolerant or simply looking for a lump-free, smooth, and easy-to-make sauce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oven temperature | 200°C/400°F fan, 220°C/450°F or Gas Mark 7 |
| Cauliflower preparation | Boil or steam the cauliflower until almost cooked. |
| Cheese sauce preparation | Mix cornflour with milk, add mustard, garlic, and seasoning, then add cheese and whisk until thick and smooth. |
| Baking | Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with shredded cheese, and bake for 30 minutes until golden. |
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What You'll Learn
Use cornflour instead of regular flour
If you want to make cauliflower cheese without flour, you can use cornflour instead. It is important to note that cornflour in the UK is not the same as in the US, where it is known as corn starch. Therefore, if you are based in the US, make sure to use corn starch instead of regular flour.
To make the cheese sauce for the cauliflower, start by mixing cornflour with a splash of milk to form a thick, lump-free paste. You can add a teaspoon of dry mustard to the paste for extra flavour. Then, pour the remaining milk into a saucepan and place it over medium heat. Next, add the cornflour paste and whisk it in. Keep whisking and cooking until the sauce starts to thicken. This should take around 5-10 minutes.
Once the sauce has thickened, add the mustard, garlic granules, salt, pepper, and grated cheese. Whisk everything together and keep cooking until the cheese has melted and the sauce is thick and smooth. You can now add the cauliflower to the sauce and mix until the cauliflower is coated. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle some extra cheese on top.
Finally, bake the dish in the oven at 200°C for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden. If you are making this dish ahead of time, you can cover and refrigerate it for up to 48 hours before baking. Just remember to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the cooking time, as the dish will be cold from the fridge.
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Use gluten-free flour alternatives
If you want to make cauliflower cheese without flour, you can use gluten-free flour alternatives. Here are some options:
Cornflour
Cornflour, or corn starch as it is known in the US, can be used as a gluten-free alternative to regular flour. It is important to note that corn flour in the US is different from cornstarch and is the same as cornmeal in the UK, so avoid using this. To make the cheese sauce, mix cornflour with a splash of milk to create a slurry before adding it to the rest of the milk in a pan and whisking it over heat. This will ensure a smooth and lump-free sauce.
Gluten-free flour
A gluten-free flour blend can be used as a direct substitute for regular flour in the cheese sauce. Simply follow the same steps as you would with regular flour, melting butter and cooking it with the flour to create a roux, before slowly adding milk and whisking to form a smooth sauce.
Omit the flour
Some recipes for cauliflower cheese omit the flour altogether, creating a flourless cheese sauce. This method is suitable for those on a gluten-free diet and reduces the chance of a lumpy sauce. To make this sauce, simply melt butter and slowly add milk, whisking continuously, before adding cheese and seasoning.
Other alternatives
While flour is traditionally used as a thickening agent in the cheese sauce for cauliflower cheese, there are other gluten-free alternatives you could try. For example, you could use arrowroot powder or rice flour as thickening agents, following similar steps to those outlined above.
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Make a cornflour slurry
To make a cornflour slurry, start by measuring out some milk into a jug. Take a small amount of the milk and pour it into a bowl containing your cornflour. Whisk the mixture until it is smooth and free of lumps. You can then add this slurry to your sauce, heating it until it thickens.
Cornflour, also known as corn starch, is made from maize and is naturally gluten-free. It is a fine white powder used to thicken sauces. It is important to note that cornflour in the UK is not the same as in the US, where it is known as corn starch.
When making a cornflour slurry, it is important to use cold milk and to constantly stir the mixture as it heats up. This will ensure that your sauce is smooth and creamy.
You can also add seasoning to your cornflour slurry to enhance the flavour of your cauliflower cheese. Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper are all great options to consider.
By following these simple steps, you can easily create a delicious and gluten-free cauliflower cheese sauce without using any flour.
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Add milk slowly to avoid lumps
To cook cauliflower cheese without flour, you can use cornflour to make a slurry or a roux with butter. Cornflour is not the same as regular flour and is also known as corn starch in the US. It is important to add the milk slowly to avoid lumps. Here's how you can do it:
First, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cornflour and whisk to form a thick, lump-free paste. This may feel tricky, but keep whisking, and it will come together. You can also add garlic at this stage for extra flavour.
Next, pour the milk into the saucepan and place it over medium heat. Add the cornflour paste and whisk continuously. Keep whisking the sauce over the heat until it thickens. This should take around 5-10 minutes.
If you are using regular flour, it is crucial to add the milk slowly to prevent lumps. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and add the flour, stirring until fully mixed. Cook this mixture for a couple of minutes, then slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
Keep adding the milk slowly, a little splash at a time, stirring constantly. This process should take around 3-4 minutes. By the time you have added all the milk, the sauce will be thick and ready to use.
Now you have a smooth and velvety sauce, you can add the mustard, seasonings, salt, and pepper, followed by the grated cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is glossy. Finally, pour the sauce over the cooked cauliflower in an oven-proof dish and sprinkle with extra cheese.
Your cauliflower cheese is now ready to bake in the oven!
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Cook sauce on low heat
Cooking the sauce on low heat is an essential step in making cauliflower cheese. This is because cooking the sauce at a high temperature can cause the cheese to burn and become bitter. If you feel that the pan is getting too hot, you can simply remove it from the heat for a few minutes before returning it to the stove.
To cook the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan on low heat. Add flour and stir until it is mixed in fully. Cook this mixture for a couple of minutes to cook out the rawness from the flour. Make sure it is on low heat so that the mixture doesn't brown. We want a white sauce!
Now, slowly pour in the hot milk while whisking continuously to ensure your sauce will be lump-free. Keep stirring the sauce over the heat for about 1 minute and you'll notice it thickens quite quickly.
At this point, you can add the cheese. Stir it in, and this will thicken the sauce considerably. This is why we don't need to cook the sauce for as long as we do with other recipes that use béchamel sauce.
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Frequently asked questions
Cornflour is a good substitute for flour in cauliflower cheese. It is important to note that cornflour in the UK is different from cornstarch in the US. In the US, cornflour is the same as cornmeal in the UK.
To make cauliflower cheese without flour, you can simply melt butter in a pan, add milk, and then continuously stir in cheese until you get a thick sauce.
Cheddar cheese is a popular choice for cauliflower cheese, but any melting cheese will work.
