Cauliflower Cheese

Cauliflower cheese is a classic dish that can be eaten as a light meal accompanied with some bread and a salad. More usually in the UK, it’s a side dish to go with a roast dinner. My family love this version of cauliflower cheese and I’m really thrilled that this recipe has already been used. My cauliflower cheese recipe serves 4 as a side dish and 2 for a lunch. This does of course depend on the size of the cauliflower. You can substitute broccoli or do half broccoli and cauliflower. Frozen veg works fine as well.

Ingredients

1 cauliflower

1 heaped tablespoon of plain flour

1 heaped tablespoon of margarine or butter

Big handful (150g or so) of grated strong cheddar cheese

300mls of milk – can be Jersey, semi skinned, zero fat or plant milk such as soya.

Method

Break the leaves off the cauliflower and set aside. Cut the cauliflower into even sized florets. Break the green parts from the cauliflower leaves and add to the florets. Put the cauliflower into a saucapan full of cold water. Bring to the boil on the hob and cook for 10 minutes. Drain using a colander. The cauliflower should be partially cooked as it’s going to be baked in the oven.

To make the sauce

Put a small saucepan on the hob on a low heat. Melt the margarine then add the flour. Stir well to combine – we don’t want lumps. Add half of the milk and switch to a whisk to combine the ingredients more efficiently. Keep adding the milk until you get to the consistency you require. It should be saucy! Add the grated cheese and keep stirring or whisking until the cheese has melted and the sauce smooth.

Place the partially cooked cauliflower in an oven proof dish. Cover with the cheese sauce.

Put in the oven preheated to 160c and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

When the time is up, remove from the oven and serve either as a dish on it’s own with some bread or as part of a roast.

I filmed a version of me making this on You Tube if you want to cook along. The link is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie2G-B-rW9w&t=33s