Frederic Melton
Cauliflower cheese is a classic side dish that can be served with a roast or as a vegetarian main course. It's a tasty and indulgent comfort food that can be made in advance and frozen. The recipe involves roasting or boiling cauliflower and coating it in a cheesy sauce, which can be made with different types of cheese, such as cheddar, Red Leicester, or Parmesan. The dish is then baked until golden and bubbly. Some recipes call for adding breadcrumbs and herbs for a crunchy topping.
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the cauliflower
Once you have cut the cauliflower, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4-7 minutes, depending on your recipe. You want the florets to be almost cooked, but not quite. They should be tender, but still firm to the bite. To check, poke a knife into the stem—if it slides in easily, your cauliflower is ready.
After boiling, drain the cauliflower and refresh it in iced water. Drain it again and transfer the florets to a large ovenproof dish. You can prepare the dish ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it for later.
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Making the cheese sauce
To make the cheese sauce, you'll need butter, flour, milk, cheese, and seasoning. Start by melting the butter gently in a clean saucepan. Then, stir in the flour and, if you like, a little mustard powder, to make a roux. Keep stirring over a low heat until the butter and flour come together as a smooth paste.
Next, gradually add milk to the mixture, whisking continuously until it is completely smooth and all the milk has been added. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for a few minutes, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens. You can add more milk if the sauce becomes too thick.
Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in your chosen cheese. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper, if desired. Stir until the cheese has fully melted into the sauce.
For the cheese, a strong-flavored variety like cheddar works well, but you can also use Red Leicester for its colour, Gran Padano, or a combination of hard cheeses.
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Combining the dish
First, make the cheese sauce. To make the sauce, melt butter gently in a clean saucepan. Then, stir in the flour and, if you like, mustard powder, over low heat to make a roux. You can use cornflour instead of flour if you prefer a thinner sauce. If you want to add a bit of spice, add some cayenne pepper. Once the butter and flour come together as a smooth paste, gradually add milk, a little at a time, whisking continuously until smooth and all the milk has been added.
Next, add the cheese. Stir the cheese into the sauce. You can use a combination of cheeses for maximum flavour. Good options include Red Leicester, Cheddar, Gruyere, Parmesan, or Gran Padano. If you're looking for an authentic Dutch flavour, choose Edam or Gouda. The cheese will thicken the sauce, so you won't need to cook it for as long as you would a béchamel sauce.
Now, it's time to add the cauliflower. Drain the boiled cauliflower well before adding it to the dish, otherwise, it may become too watery. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower in the dish and mix to coat the cauliflower in the sauce.
Finally, finish the dish. You can add breadcrumbs and thyme leaves to the remaining cheese and sprinkle this over the dish. Alternatively, you can just sprinkle some cheese over the top.
Bake the dish in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the topping is crisp and golden and the sauce is bubbling.
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Baking
To bake cauliflower cheese, start by preheating your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil, add the cauliflower florets, and cook for 4 to 7 minutes until just tender. Drain the cauliflower and transfer it to a large ovenproof dish.
To make the cheese sauce, gently melt butter in a clean saucepan, and then stir in flour and mustard powder to make a roux. You can also add milk a little at a time, whisking continuously until smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in seasonings, such as cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper, to taste.
Add your choice of cheese to the sauce. You can use a combination of cheeses, such as Red Leicester, Cheddar, Gruyere, or Parmesan, for maximum flavour. Stir the cheese into the sauce until it melts, and then pour the sauce over the cauliflower in the dish.
For an extra crunchy topping, sprinkle breadcrumbs over the dish. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until the topping is crisp, golden, and the sauce is bubbling.
You can make this dish in advance and refrigerate or freeze it. When ready to bake, follow the same instructions, allowing for an extra 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time since it will be cold.
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Serving suggestions
Cauliflower cheese is a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. Here are some serving suggestions to elevate your meal:
As a Main Course
For a hearty and indulgent main course, serve cauliflower cheese with jacket potatoes and pickled beetroot. You can also pair it with fish fingers or a rump steak. If you're feeling extra indulgent, top your cauliflower cheese with crispy bacon pieces or shredded mozzarella for that perfect stringy cheese pull.
As a Side Dish
Cauliflower cheese is an excellent side dish for roast dinners. Pop it in the oven when you take out your roast chicken to rest, or serve it alongside roast beef or lamb. It also pairs well with sirloin steak or eye fillet. For a vegetarian option, serve it with a whole roast cauliflower.
Creative Twists
Cauliflower cheese can be adapted and customised to your taste. Try roasting the cauliflower instead of boiling or steaming it for extra flavour and a crispy texture. You can also experiment with different cheeses like mature cheddar, Red Leicester, Gruyere, or a scoop of Boursin soft cheese.
Additionally, you can add a dash of mustard for heat or wintery herbs like dried sage and thyme. If you're feeling adventurous, try mixing in roasted pumpkin and broccoli or adding a cup of cooked penne for a heartier dish.
Leftovers and Reheating
Cauliflower cheese leftovers can be transformed into a creamy soup by adding hot vegetable stock and blending until smooth. Serve this with warm crusty bread for a comforting meal. When reheating cauliflower cheese, cover it with kitchen foil and bake for 20 minutes at 180°C to prevent drying out.
With these serving suggestions, you can enjoy cauliflower cheese in a variety of ways, ensuring that each meal is comforting and delicious.
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Frequently asked questions
The cauliflower should be roasted, not boiled. To roast the cauliflower, toss it in salt, pepper, and olive oil and cook in the oven for 5-7 minutes at 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6.
You can use a combination of cheeses to make the sauce. Cheddar is a popular choice, but you can also use Red Leicester, Gran Padano, Gruyere, or Parmesan.
Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in flour to make a paste. Then, gradually add milk and whisk until smooth. Finally, stir in the cheese, which will thicken the sauce.
Bake the cauliflower cheese for 15-20 minutes at 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6, or until the topping is crisp and golden and the sauce is bubbling.
