Who can resist cauliflower covered in a cheese sauce? This Cauliflower Gratin has cauliflower covered in a creamy cheese sauce then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked for a veggie side dish everyone will love.
Photos Updated October 2014
Originally posted November 3, 2007 – I have a lot of really great recipes that are often overshadowed by a really awful photo. This was one of those recipes. The original photo was so unappetizing, and I knew that this post needed to be brought back to life. I updated the photos a few months ago, but was thinking that this Cheddar Cauliflower Gratin would make a great Easter side dish, so I decided to spotlight it today. This is such a delicious side dish – I’m so glad you can all see that now and that the original photo has been banished! 😉
First of all, I have seen several of the blogs that I read that are participating in National Blog Posting Month – otherwise known as NaBloPoMo. I really wasn’t planning on participating, but seeing that I have tons of pictures of recipes that I haven’t blogged about, I figured that this would be a good opportunity to share some of these and catch up. I went and counted, and I have 15 – so that combined with what I will make through the month – I figure I should have plenty!! So I’m sorry if you get tired of hearing from me every day!! (Let’s see if I can actually make it through the month!)
I rarely make side dishes. I know, I am probably a bad menu planner/cook because of this, but it seems like when we eat dinner, we really are never hungry enough for the main dish plus side dishes. This kind of strikes me as weird, because as I type that, I realize that whenever we go out, we almost always get an appetizer. Maybe that is why we always bring home so much in a to-go container!! I have been trying to branch out a bit and try different side dishes – sometimes it is nice to have more than 1 thing on your plate!
On this particular night, we hadn’t planned for dinner, so upon digging through the freezer, we found some chicken thighs and some sausages that my husband could cook on the grill. I used this opportunity to make a side dish. I remembered a cauliflower dish that I saw on Leslie’s blog, so I decided to do it. The recipe originally comes from Epicurious. It is a cauliflower gratin that has a horseradish crumb on top. Well, I didn’t have the horseradish, so I decided to do what Leslie did and I substituted the horseradish crumbs with seasoned bread crumbs. Leslie’s looks a lot prettier because she served hers in individual ramekins, but it still tasted very good even though it didn’t look as good!! It made me realize that most side dishes can be thrown together with minimal effort, and they really do compliment the meal. I’m going to try to make more of an effort now to put a complete dinner on the table!!
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Cheddar Cauliflower Gratin
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Who can resist cauliflower covered in a cheese sauce? This Cauliflower Gratin has cauliflower covered in a creamy cheese sauce then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked for a veggie side dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 3 lb cauliflower, cut into 1 1/2 – 2 inch florets
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 6 oz Sharp Cheddar, grated
- 1/2 cup finely chopped scallion greens
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1–2 tablespoons seasoned breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then salt generously. Add the cauliflower and boil until tender, 6-8 minutes. Drain well, then transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, melt the 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour to the butter and cook, whisking, for 3 minutes. Add the milk in a slow stream, whisking constantly. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese, scallion greens, salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and stir gently to combine.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top and bake until the topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Recipe Notes:
Source: adapted from Epicurious
Kim says
This is one of my fav recipes and I make it for Thanksgiving. Sometimes though it can get watery after cooking, do you have any suggestions on how to avoid that?
Deborah says
I will have to make this again to retest, but I would suggest really letting the cauliflower drain well before adding the cheese sauce. Maybe even letting it sit in a colander for 30-45 minutes will help any excess water to drain off.
April says
I made this but substituted Greek yogurt for milk and garlic for scallions. I also used reduced fat cheese blend from Trader Joe’s in place of whole fat cheddar. It was delicious! My 9 year old even gobbled it down.
Kristi says
My sister in law asked me to make a veggie casserole for Easter dinner but wanted something ‘different’. (No pressure there, haha!) I found this recipe and thought it looked good and different from the green bean casserole but not ‘way out there’ different. And it fit the bill perfectly! Everyone really liked it. My sister in law said it was really good and even asked me how I made it. Thanks for posting the recipe!
Hugo A L Rohland says
Hi Deborah. Always looking to prepare Cauliflower differently, and this look yummy. Have a great and blessed Thanksgiving this season.
Deborah says
Thanks, Hugo – Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Brittany says
I cannot wait to try this! I see that 2 Tbsp. of butter are used to make the cheese sauce, but where do the other 2 Tbsp. of butter get added in? Thanks for any help!
Deborah says
Thanks for catching that! It should have just been the 2 tablespoons of butter. I have updated the recipe.
sylvie says
Cauliflower gratin is just irresistible! I always add some powdered nutmeg to give it a particular flavor.
Renee says
This looks amazing! Yumming it for later.
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
This sounds awesome! I made a cauliflower gratin before and it was a total flop so I can’t wait to try this one!
Sunshinemom says
I love this thing, and you just made me hungry again!
eatme_delicious says
Okay another recipe I’m going to steal from you. 🙂 I love cauliflower. My mom makes this baked cauliflower that she got from another relative. That’s one of my favourite veggie dishes. Basically you steam the cauliflower until tender, then spread on a mixture of I think it’s Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard and a couple of other things?
Kevin says
I often have trouble working side dishes in as well. Cauliflour smothered in cheese sounds really good though.
Cynthia says
Deborah! Thanks very much for this recipe. I am definitely going to make it.
Mandy says
Deborah,
kudos for participating the national blog posting month! I don’t think I can survive a blog posting week. ;p
It’s surely lots of fun to see your dishes everyday. 🙂
Nora B. says
Hi Deborah, I’m just dropping by to give you my support for your attempt to post something everyday for this month as part of NaBloPoMo. Go Deb! 😉
Paz says
Cauliflower and cheese? Oh, I have to try this recipe! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Best,
Paz
glamah16 says
I’m happy your particiapting and posting everyday.I enjoy your blog a lot and your always so kind with your comments. One day I hope to build up recipe and photos so I can always have something at hand.So keep posting and inspiring.
Kelly-Jane says
It’s a lovely thing that your have the enthusiasm to be able to blog everyday!
Great gratin =)
Chris says
This looks delicious! I, too, am not a side dish girl. Actually, if I do make a side, it acts as my main course. This looks like one of those dishes that I’m going to have to keep in mind for my next cauliflower purchase. 🙂
Marie says
We call this cauliflower cheese over here and it’s one of my favourites! Yours looks delicious!
Anh says
Deborah, this is a great way to serve cauliflower. I am not much of cauliflower fan, but willing to try them in different way. This must eb one of them!
Zee says
Hi! I came over from NaBloPoMo. I’m challenging myself to comment on as many blogs as possible this month as well as post.
Wow! I hope you don’t mind, but I’m totally stealing this recipe from you. Your picture just made me hungry, and I finished dinner not that long ago. Thanks!
Happy Posting!
ems says
This looks really good! I don’t cook much, and am actually terrified of my kitchen. But I’ve been trying more as of late, and the nablopomo randomizer brought me to your blog. I think it’s fate 🙂
jennifer says
This looks really good. I’m not a big side dish person, but I bet you could serve this with rice and you could have a meal.
Abby says
I’ve had a broccoli/cauliflower gratin recipe tagged forever – I’m going to have to make it after seeing this! Cauliflower is actually one of my favorite veggies, and I have a head in the fridge (along with some horseradish.) I see tomorrow’s lunch!