Cold-Climate Cauliflower and Cheese Bake
A comforting cool-climate vegetable bake of tender cauliflower and sweet leek smothered in rich cheese sauce with a golden crumb.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 430 kcal
Equipment
- •large saucepan
- •colander
- •medium saucepan
- •whisk
- •ceramic baking dish
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- fat
- 28 g
- carbs
- 28 g
- fibre
- 5 g
- protein
- 17 g
- calories
- 430 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 200C (180C fan-forced).
- 2
Bring a large saucepan of well-salted water to the boil over high heat.
- 3
Add the cauliflower florets and sliced leek, boiling for 4 minutes until just tender.
- 4
Drain the vegetables thoroughly in a colander, shaking gently to release trapped steam.
- 5
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foaming.
- 6
Stir in the plain flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbling and fragrant.
- 7
Gradually whisk in the warm milk, simmering gently until the sauce becomes thick and smooth.
- 8
Remove from the heat and stir in two-thirds of the cheddar, mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
- 9
Tip the drained vegetables into a ceramic baking dish and pour over the hot cheese sauce.
- 10
Scatter the remaining grated cheese and sourdough breadcrumbs evenly across the top.
- 11
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the top is deeply golden and sauce bubbles at the edges.
Chef's tips
Drain the boiled cauliflower thoroughly so excess water does not dilute the cheese sauce. Tossing the breadcrumbs in a small drizzle of melted butter gives an even crisper topping.
Ingredient substitutions
- sharp cheddar cheese → vintage tasty cheese or gruyere
- sourdough breadcrumbs → gluten-free breadcrumbs or panko crumbs
Storage
Store cooled leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat in a 180C oven for 15 minutes until warmed through and crisp on top.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Overboiling the cauliflower initially, which results in a mushy bake.
- •Rushing the milk addition, which can cause lumps in the white sauce.
Serving suggestions
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