Our favorite way to dress up cauliflower is with a creamy sharp cheddar cheese sauce. This sauce takes ordinary steamed cauliflower and turns it into comfort food. This is The Organic Kitchen’s Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese, and I know you are going to love it!
(This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Your price remains the same.)
How I Make Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese:
There is nothing tricky here. Trust me, this recipe is so easy a novice can pull it off. Simply steam cauliflower until firm but soft enough that a fork can slide in easily. Place cauliflower in a baking dish or skillet, pour cheese sauce over, and bake until cheese turns golden and a little crispy. That’s it!
HOW TO MAKE The CHEESE SAUCE:
When making a cheese sauce you start with a roux (pronounced roo) A roux is a combination of fat and flour and is used to thicken a sauce. In this case we use butter for our fat. You can grate the cheese yourself using a cheese grater or make it quick and painless using a food processor. Make the roux by whisking melted butter, flour, sea salt and pepper together. Then add warm milk and allow to thicken a bit while stirring. Then add cheese and handful at a time. Stir until smooth and you have yourself a beautiful cheese sauce. Here is a nice little step by step…
Bake It Up!
Then you just pop it in the oven until the cheese get s a little golden.
Love Cheese Sauces? I Have More Recipes For you!
If you love a good cheese sauce, try my Baked Penne and Skillet Mac and Cheese!
The Recipe: Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese
What you need: an8 x 8 baking dish, and a vegetable steamer.
A delicious comfort food side dish!
- 1 cup warm whole fat milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar, grated
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 head organic cauliflower, cut into florets
-
Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place oven rack in center position. Grate cheese. Set aside. Break cauliflower into florets. Place water and cauliflower in steamer, place lid on steamer and allow cauliflower to steam until fork goes in but cauliflower is a bit firm (about 3 minutes). We don't want mushy cauliflower.
-
Set milk in a pan and warm on medium heat. Place a second saucepan on medium heat, melt butter, add salt and pepper. Add flour to melted butter and whisk. This is your roux, it will thicken your cheese sauce. Slowly add warm milk to the roux, continually whisking and heat until mixture begins to thicken. When milk is a bit thickened, add cheese a handful at a time (retaining the 1/2 cup for later) whisk cheese, slowly adding more as each handful melts. When cheese is completely melted and sauce is smooth turn off heat.
-
Place cauliflower in baking dish). Pour cheese sauce over. Sprinkle with extra cheese if desired. Bake for 5-6 minutes or until cheese is a bit browned and crispy on top. Serve!.
MAY I PLEASE ASK A FAVOR?
We small bloggers need all the help we can get. Subscribing and sharing on social media is very appreciated!
STANDARD FTC DISCLOSURE and Privacy Policy: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please note that I only endorse products that are in alignment with Cook with Me Darling’s ideals and that I believe would be of value to my readers.The Organic Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. View The Organic Kitchen’s Privacy Policy
