Description
Comforting cauliflower cheese delivers British culinary magic with creamy cheddar and tender florets. Melted cheese blankets roasted cauliflower, creating a luxurious side dish that speaks directly to hearty home cooking you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 medium cauliflower, in florets
- 40 grams (1.4 ounces) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 40 grams (1.4 ounces) Gruyere cheese, grated
Sauce and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 heaped tablespoons half-fat creme fraiche
- 1 tablespoon extra Parmesan cheese, grated
Seasoning and Herbs:
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- Pinch of grated nutmeg
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Trim cauliflower into uniform florets, removing tough stems and leaves.
- Immerse cauliflower in salted boiling water with bay leaves, infusing subtle herbal notes for precisely 8-10 minutes until tender yet crisp.
- Drain cauliflower thoroughly, allowing excess moisture to evaporate completely.
- Prepare creamy sauce by gently warming creme fraiche in a saucepan, whisking consistently to prevent scorching.
- Gradually incorporate grated cheddar and gruyere cheeses, stirring until smooth and velvety.
- Season sauce with ground nutmeg, white pepper, and a pinch of cayenne for depth of flavor.
- Arrange softened cauliflower florets in a ceramic baking dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour luxurious cheese sauce evenly over cauliflower, coating each piece generously.
- Sprinkle finely chopped caramelized onions across the surface for added complexity.
- Dust the top with grated Parmesan cheese and an extra dash of cayenne for a subtle kick.
- Position dish under preheated grill at 450°F for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
- Rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by toasting bay leaves briefly before steaming to release deeper aromatic notes.
- Experiment with cheese varieties like sharp cheddar or gruyère for more complex taste profile.
- Reduce dairy content by substituting half the creme fraiche with Greek yogurt for lighter version.
- Add crispy breadcrumbs on top before grilling for extra textural crunch and golden finish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg