Cauliflower Cheese

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Cauliflower Cheese is a traditional British dish that makes for a soulful weekend meal. Here, par-boiled cauliflower florets are coated with a creamy cheesy milk-based white sauce and baked until bubbling to get an utterly delicious dish. I have replaced all purpose flour (maida) with whole wheat flour to make it healthy and guilt-free. Cauliflower cheese can be served as main course (for lunch or dinner ) or as a side dish. The recipe is very simple and easy to follow.

Cauliflower and its health benefits:

Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable that is extremely healthy and a significant source of nutrients. It is versatile and can be easily added to our regular diet in many ways. Let's have a look at the health benefits of including it in our daily diet.

• Cauliflower is low in calories and high in vitamins.
• It is rich in fiber, aids in digestion and is beneficial for overall growth.
• Cauliflower provides a significant amount of antioxidants, which are beneficial for reducing inflammation and protecting against several chronic diseases.
• It is a good source of choline, a nutrient involved in many process in the body, and works to prevent several diseases. 
• Click here to know more about this low-carb veggie.

What goes into Cauliflower Cheese ? The Ingredients

Cauliflower cheese is a traditional British dish that makes for a heartwarming Sunday meal. A very simple and hassle-free dish that even new-bees in cooking can make for themselves. Cauliflower cheese is similar to the Macaroni cheese dish but here, pasta is replaced with cauliflower florets. Let's have a look at the ingredients one by one.

• Cauliflower: The main ingredient is off-course Cauliflower. Use a fresh worm-free cauliflower head for the recipe.
• Cheese: grated Cheddar cheese is used which is just perfect for the dish.
• Milk: I have used full- cream milk. However skimmed milk can also be used to cut down the calories.
• Butter: Butter is used to roast the flour while making the white sauce. It adds a lovely flavor to the dish.
• Whole wheat flour: I have replaced all purpose flour with whole wheat flour as I always do while making the white sauce.
• Seasoning: I have kept it simple and seasoned the dish with just salt, black pepper and chili flakes. You may use mustard paste if desired.

Dietary Notes:

• Vegetarian / Egg-free
• Satvik (Onion-garlic) free.
• Kid friendly
• Bachelor's recipe

#CauliflowerStories @FoodieMondayBlogHop

It is raining cauliflower recipes on our Facebook gourmet group, Foodie Monday Blog Hop, where a group of passionate food bloggers share their culinary skills every Monday depending upon a pre-determined theme. Preethi di who blogs @Preethiscuisine.com was our hostess for the 270th week on this group and among the two themes she proposed, Cauliflower stories won with maximum votes. Since i was fasting on account of Navratri last week, when the theme was proposed, i wanted to make something satvik as i refrain from using onion-garlic in my kitchen, even for Kiran and Chinmay (who were not fasting), during the pious 9 day festival. So i chose to cook this delicious cauliflower cheese for my son as his lunch as this dish is onion-garlic free. Meanwhile do check out Preethi di's space for many delicious recipes both from Indian as well as International Cuisine. I have bookmarked her Cauliflower Fritters and Teekha Gobhi Matar masala to try out soon.

                                    

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients: Measurements used - 1 cup = 240 ml

• 1 large Cauliflower head
• 2 cups milk / 500 ml
• 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 3-4 tablespoon whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
• 1-2 teaspoon black pepper powder
• Salt to taste.

Method:

1. Trim the cauliflower and remove the tough core. Cut into 1-2 inch florets.                          

2. Bring a large sauce-pan of water to boil. Add the cauliflower florets to it and par-boil for 5-7 minutes until firm but tender. You may instead steam the florets for around 10 minutes. 

                             

                             

3. Drain the cauliflower and then tip into an oven-proof dish. Preheat the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.

                                       

4. Put the saucepan back on heat. Add butter to it and allow it to melt. Next, add the whole wheat flour. Whisk to combine and cook the flour for 1 minute or so to get rid of the raw taste of the flour. 

                                      

                                      

5. Stir in milk slowly and steadily and keep whisking continuously to get a lump-free mixture. Simmer the sauce until it thickens a bit. 

                                  

                                  

6. Reserve 2 tablespoon of cheese and add the remaining grated cheddar cheese to the sauce in batches. Keep stirring as the cheese melts. Season the sauce with salt, black pepper and chili flakes. Give a quick stir and put off the flame. Taste the sauce at this stage and add more seasonings if desired.

                                  

      

7. Spoon the sauce over the florets and sprinkle remaining cheese. Transfer the baking dish to preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes at 200 Degrees Celsius until bubbly. Bake for additional 10 minutes if you desire. Sprinkle herbs if you wish to and serve immediately !

                                   

Recipe Notes:

• A mature cheese like cheddar is preferred in making cauliflower cheese.
• You may use both broccoli and cauliflower in making this dish or either one as a variations.
• I have baked the cauliflower cheese for 20 minutes. You may bake for an additional 10-15 minutes if you liked the charred top.
• You may sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of bread crumbs over the cauliflower cheese prior to baking.
• You can serve cauliflower cheese as a side dish to any meal or as a main course meal served with some spicy chutney and a crunchy salad.
• Fresh herbs may be used to garnish Cauliflower cheese.
• I have kept the dish simple and seasoned it with just salt, black pepper and chili flakes. You may use mustard paste if desired.

Would Love to hear From You !

I hope you would love this delectable Cauliflower Cheese as much as we did. If you give it a try, feel free to share your feedback with us in the form of likes and comments in the section below this post.

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See you soon with yet another healthy and delicious creation from my Kitchen.  Till then take care and eat right!

Happy Cooking !

Happy Eating !

Regards

Poonam Bachhav

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