Cheesy Cauliflower Leek Casserole Recipes

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE WITH LEEK BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Remove the green outer leaves from the cauliflower as well as the thick white stalk, taking care not to break off the florets. Cut a deep cross in the bottom of the stem and steam it whole over a pan of boiling water until slightly tender but not cooked through. The cauliflower florets should still be firm. Remove the cauliflower from the heat and leave to cool.
• Place the butter in a large saucepan and melt over medium heat. Lower the heat and add the finely chopped leeks. Cook until the leeks are softening slightly but not cooked thoroughly. Remove 1 tablespoon of the leeks and keep to one side. Add the flour to the remaining leeks in the pan and stir. The flour will become lumpy, but continue to stir for 2 - 3 minutes. This will cook the flour and soften it to make a better sauce. Add the large pinch of salt and the mustard powder and stir again. Turn up the heat to medium and add the milk all at once. Stir briskly until a smooth sauce forms. Continue stirring until the sauce is thick and glossy - about 4 - 5 minutes. If the sauce thickens too much, add a little more milk. It should be thick, but still a bit runny. At this point, add the grated cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
• Break or cut the cauliflower florets away from the thick, central stalk, taking care not to break it into tiny pieces. Place these florets in a greased baking dish large enough to hold all the florets in just one layer. Pour the cheese and leek sauce over the cauliflower making sure to cover all the florets. Sprinkle the extra grated cheese evenly over the top and scatter the reserved softened leeks over the top as well. Finally, grate some fresh pepper over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the sauce is bubbling and golden brown on the top, approximately 20 minutes. Test the cauliflower to make sure it's cooked through by piercing with a sharp pointed knife, cook a little longer if necessary. Serve warm.

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER & LEEK CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 425° F.
• 2. Drizzle olive oil onto the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Layer about a half of the cauliflower along the bottom, and about a half of the leeks. Drizzle with more olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Repeat until all of the cauliflower and leeks are used.
• 3. Season the top layer with olive oil, salt and pepper, then pour over cream. Scatter cheese on top. Then, lightly cover with foil and place in the oven.
• 4. Bake until cauliflower is nearly tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for 30-35 minutes or until cream has thickened and reduced almost completely, and the top is golden brown and crisp.
• 5. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before eating.

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart baking dish.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the cauliflower, and steam until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• Combine sour cream, Cheddar cheese, corn flakes, bell peppers, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the cauliflower, and transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and paprika over the top of the dish.
• Bake uncovered until heated through, 30 to 35 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER AND LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until slightly tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water; transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add leeks, shallots, red-pepper flakes, and thyme; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour until well combined. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly, until well combined. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil; let boil 2 to 3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cups cheese; season with salt and pepper.
• Pour leek mixture over cauliflower mixture and stir until cauliflower is well coated; transfer to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup cheese over top. Transfer to oven and bake until bubbly, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Transfer baking dish to broiler; broil until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add broccoli and cauliflower and cook uncovered until tender yet firm to the bite, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain and transfer broccoli-cauliflower to a baking dish.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour and stir until browned and bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk half-and-half and Dijon mustard into butter-flour mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until cream sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Stir 2/3 cup Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and paprika into cream sauce; cook and stir until cheeses are melted. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over broccoli-cauliflower mixture and top with 3 tablespoons Cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.
• Bake in the preheated oven until topping is lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN WITH LEEKS AND WHITE CHEDDAR

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice cauliflower head lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick slices, including the core and leaves. (Some smaller bits will fall away: That's fine. You'll use them as well.)
• Drizzle some olive oil onto the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. (An oval, square or rectangular dish will all work.) Layer about a third of the cauliflower along the bottom, and about a third of the leeks. Season with salt and pepper, and repeat until all of the cauliflower and leeks are used. (Don't worry about perfectly layering them.) Season with salt and pepper and drizzle cream over. Scatter cheese on top, and season again with salt and pepper. Lightly cover with foil and place in the oven.
• Bake until cauliflower is nearly tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cream has thickened and reduced nearly completely and the top is golden brown and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before eating.