Description
This Cheesy Cauliflower Au Gratin is a delicious comfort food dish featuring tender steamed cauliflower covered in a rich, creamy cheddar cheese sauce, baked to golden perfection. Perfect as a side dish or a vegetarian main course, it combines simple ingredients with classic French technique to deliver a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower
- 1 head of cauliflower, separated into pieces
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 1 cup milk
- 6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- A pinch of black pepper
- A dash of ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Steam the Cauliflower: Place a steamer insert into a saucepan with water just below the steamer bottom. Bring to a boil, add the cauliflower pieces, cover, and steam for 5 to 7 minutes until tender.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and add diced onion. Cook while stirring for about 5 minutes until the onion softens. Stir in flour and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until it just starts to brown. Gradually whisk in the milk to form a smooth sauce and heat until it starts to simmer.
- Finish the Cheese Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Season the sauce with black pepper and a dash of nutmeg to enhance flavor.
- Assemble the Cauliflower Bake: Arrange the steamed cauliflower evenly in the prepared baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the cauliflower, then sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake and Serve: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top. Remove from oven and serve warm.
Notes
- Steam the cauliflower until just tender to avoid mushy texture after baking.
- You can substitute the cheddar cheese with Gruyère or a cheese blend for different flavor profiles.
- For a deeper flavor, sauté the onions until caramelized before adding flour.
- Use whole milk for a creamier sauce or a lower-fat milk to reduce calories.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Steaming, Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Cauliflower au gratin, cheese sauce cauliflower, baked cauliflower cheese, cheesy cauliflower recipe, vegetarian side dish
