Luxury Cauliflower Cheese Recipes

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, then add 1 large cauliflower, broken into pieces, and cook for 5 mins - lift out a piece to test, it should be cooked.
• Drain the cauliflower, then tip into an ovenproof dish. Heat oven to 220C/200C/gas 7.
• Put the saucepan back on the heat and add 500ml milk, 4 tbsp flour and 50g butter.
• Keep whisking fast as the butter melts and the mixture comes to the boil - the flour will disappear and the sauce will begin to thicken. Whisk for 2 mins while the sauce bubbles and becomes nice and thick.
• Turn off the heat, stir in most of the 100g grated cheddar cheese and pour over the cauliflower. Scatter over the remaining cheese, and 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs if using.
• Put in the oven and bake for 20 mins until bubbling.

LUXURY CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre heat oven 180 degrees.
• Chop cauliflower and put in large pan of boiling water. Cook until tender.
• Heat the oil in frying pan, and add sliced pepper and leek, until softened.
• Stir in flour and mustard, cooking and stirrring for 2-3 minutes. Take off heat and add the milk gradually stiring until well blended.
• Return to heat and bring to boil, stirring until thickened.
• Stir in 175g/6oz the cheese and season with salt and pepper, add parsley.
• Put cauliflower in ovenprooff dish, spoon over cheese sauce and sprinkle rest of cheese on top.
• Place on oven for 20 - 30 minutes. Alternatively can place under grill for 5 minutes.

NEXT-LEVEL CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 210C/190C fan/gas 7. Tip the cauliflower into a shallow baking dish and toss with the oil, cayenne and a pinch of salt. Scatter with half the parmesan and roast for 20 mins until crisp and golden. Toss the florets, then sprinkle with more (but not all) of the parmesan and roast for 10 mins more until starting to char a little. Set aside.
• While the cauliflower is roasting, make the sauce. Heat the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat until frothy. Scatter over and stir in the flour, cooking for 3 mins until you have a sandy paste, then add the milk, a splash at a time, keeping it at a simmer and whisking between each addition until smooth. Once all the milk has been added, continue to cook the sauce gently, stirring occasionally for 15 mins until thickened and silky, then stir through the mustard powder and yeast extract, if using. Remove from the heat and add the grated cheddar, a handful at a time, until you have a thick, cheesy sauce. At this point stir in the cubed cheese and season with nutmeg and salt, if needed.
• Pour the sauce over the cauliflower in the baking dish to fully coat it. Mix the breadcrumbs with the remaining parmesan, then scatter this over the cauliflower cheese and bake for 20 mins. Sprinkle with the crispy onions and bake for a further 10 mins until bubbling and deep golden. Serve in warm and melting scoops from the baking dish.