How to make cauliflower cheese

Find out how to make this popular side dish.

Cauliflower cheese

by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

Cauliflower cheese is a favourite side dish for many of us and it's no surprise with all that melty, creamy cheese! Many vegetarians also enjoy tucking into it as a main too.

If you've always wondered how to make cauliflower cheese, the truth is that it's not actually that difficult. Just give this easy recipe from Tesco a go and you'll see what we mean!

Serves: 6 | 245 calories per serving

Ingredients

1 cauliflower

40g butter

50g plain flour

450ml milk

130g mature Cheddar cheese

1 tsp English mustard

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Half fill a large pan with water and bring to the boil over a medium-high heat.
  1. Remove the outer leaves from one whole cauliflower, then chop the rest into florets, halving or quartering any large pieces as needed to make them all an even size. The leftover stem and leaves can be chopped up and cooked in stir-fries.
  1. Add the florets to the pan and bring back up to the boil. Cook for five minutes, or until the cauliflower is just tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, but still firm enough to hold its shape. Drain and set aside.
  1. The cheese sauce starts with a roux base. Gently melt 40g butter in a pan over a low heat, then stir in 50g plain flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for just a few seconds until it forms a smooth, thick paste.
  1. Measure out 450ml milk. Pour a little into the pan and stir until smooth. Keep adding the milk, a little at a time, stirring until fully combined. Cook gently for another two mins, stirring to stop it catching on the bottom. Add 80g mature Cheddar cheese, grated, and one tsp English mustard and stir until melted into the sauce. Season and remove from the heat.
  1. Pour some of the cheese sauce into a deep ovenproof dish. Add the cauliflower, then pour over the rest of the sauce to fully cover. Grate another 50g mature Cheddar over the top, then place on a baking tray to catch any sauce that bubbles over.
  1. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling at the edges. Serves six people as a side dish, or two as a main.

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