Description
Simple cauliflower cheese showcases British culinary comfort at its finest. Creamy cheese sauce envelops tender florets, creating a hearty side dish that welcomes you to savor pure, homestyle satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 head cauliflower or 2 small heads
- 6 oz (170 g) extra sharp aged cheddar cheese (cut into small cubes)
- 6 oz (170 g) extra sharp aged white cheddar cheese (cut into small cubes)
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 2 tbsps (30 g) butter
- 2 tbsps (16 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp (15 g) Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp (15 g) Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp (7 g) bread crumbs
- 0.75 tsp coarse or kosher salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Steam cauliflower florets until fork-tender, ensuring a delicate texture without becoming mushy.
- Setup: Grease a casserole dish and preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) for optimal cooking conditions.
- Sauce Foundation: Craft a golden roux by melting butter and whisking in flour, cooking until the mixture develops a light golden hue and releases a nutty fragrance.
- Sauce Development: Gradually introduce whole milk, whisking continuously to create a velvety smooth base, simmering until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon with a luxurious consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Infuse the sauce with Dijon mustard, then fold in cheddar cheese until melted, creating a rich and creamy cheese sauce with depth and complexity.
- Assembly: Arrange steamed cauliflower in the prepared dish, generously drench with the cheese sauce, ensuring complete and even coverage of the vegetables.
- Topping and Baking: Combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, sprinkle over the surface, then bake for 20-25 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown crispness and the sauce bubbles enticingly around the edges.
- Serving: Allow the dish to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling the sauce to set and flavors to meld, creating a perfectly cohesive and delectable cauliflower cheese experience.
Notes
- Steam with Care: Perfectly steam cauliflower until fork-tender, avoiding mushy texture for ideal bite and texture.
- Roux Mastery: Develop a golden, smooth roux by whisking flour and butter carefully, cooking for 2-3 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Cheese Sauce Secrets: Continuously whisk milk into roux to prevent lumps, creating a silky smooth sauce that coats vegetables beautifully.
- Crispy Topping Technique: Sprinkle Parmesan breadcrumbs evenly for a golden, crunchy layer that adds delightful texture contrast to creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg