Description
A creamy and comforting whole baked cauliflower cheese featuring a tender roasted cauliflower head covered in rich cheddar sauce and baked until golden and bubbling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large whole cauliflower, about 1.2 kilograms, trimmed but kept whole
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Combine Ingredients: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Steam or boil the whole cauliflower for 8 to 10 minutes until just tender but still firm. Drain well and place in a baking dish.
- Assemble the Dish: Stir grated cheddar and Dijon mustard into the sauce until melted. Season with salt and black pepper. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the cauliflower, coating the entire surface.
- Cook to Perfection: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
- Finishing Touches: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy: Sprinkle with fresh parsley and slice into wedges to serve.
Notes
- Drain the cauliflower thoroughly before adding the sauce to prevent excess water.
- Whisk the sauce continuously to avoid lumps.
- For extra golden crust, sprinkle additional cheese on top before baking.
- The cheese sauce can be prepared a day in advance and reheated gently before assembling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg