Cauliflower Cheese Bake
British-style cauliflower cheese bake with cream, mustard, nutmeg, and cloves, topped with cheese and breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
- 500 g cauliflower
- 250-300 ml milk
- 1/2 onion
- 35 g butter
- 1/2 cup grated semi-hard cheese mature Cheddar recommended
- 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 tsp mustard
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 40 ml cream
- 1/3 tsp ground cloves
- 1-2 bay leaves
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower: Cut into florets, rinse well, and boil in salted water for 4–5 minutes until just tender. Drain thoroughly.
- Infuse the milk: In a small saucepan, gently warm the milk with the bay leaf. Let it steep for a few minutes, then remove the bay leaf and set the milk aside.
- Make the sauce: Sauté the chopped onion in butter until soft but not browned, for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute, then gradually add the infused milk, whisking constantly to form a smooth sauce.Off the heat, stir in the cream, grated cheese, mustard, pepper, nutmeg, and ground cloves.
- Assemble and bake: Butter a baking dish, add the cauliflower florets and pour the sauce over the florets. Top with extra cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake at 200°C for 15-20 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Serve hot.
Notes
The total calorie content of the dish is approximately 942 calories. This is an estimate and will vary depending on the specific products and brands used. The dish is intended to serve 3 people as a side, which works out to around 314 calories per person.