Smothered in a rich, gooey cheese sauce and topped with buttery crumbs, this baked cauliflower with cheese is the perfect side for a Harry Potter-inspired roast dinner!
Pack your trunks and head over to King’s Cross station platform 9 3/4’s to catch the Hogwarts Express as we embark on our next exciting culinary adventure. Join us as we explore the wizarding world of Harry Potter and experience our very own Hogwarts Feast!
The annual start of term feast at Hogwarts is always an extravagant affair with countless roasts, pies, sides, and desserts. Creamy, baked cauliflower with cheese is always a favourite. A blend of English cheeses and tangy mustard add maximum flavour to the cheese sauce. Topped with buttery crumbs and smothered in a rich cheese sauce, this recipe turns simple cauliflower into a decadent and delicious side dish for a roast!
Ingredients
Cauliflower: Separate the cauliflower into large florets. I find that small pieces can break down after baking while keeping the florets large helps them retain their shape. Steam the cauliflower until partially cooked.
English cheese: I like to use a blend of cheeses to create this cheese sauce. For this recipe I used mature English cheddar, Double Gloucester, and Red Leicester cheeses. Always popular, a mature cheddar adds sharpness and tang. Double Gloucester cheese is a semi-firm cheese with a mild flavour. Similar to cheddar, Red Leicester is milder and creamier than cheddar and gets its distinctive colour from annatto. While these are my favourite cheeses, the great thing about this dish is how customizable it is to your own favourite cheeses!
How to make Baked Cauliflower with Cheese
Prep the cauliflower
Remove the stem from the cauliflower. Break the cauliflower into very large florets, trimming the stems and removing the leaves. Steam or boil the cauliflower until partially cooked. Transfer the par cooked cauliflower to a greased baking dish.
Make the cheese sauce
In a saucepan melt 1/4 cup of the butter over medium low heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook slowly until the onion is very tender and softened. Whisk in the flour to make a roux. Cook the roux for 2 to 3 minutes over medium low heat.
Begin adding the milk, half a cup at a time whisking to prevent lumps. Once all the milk has been added, raise the temperature to medium high and bring to a boil. Add the dry mustard, nutmeg, kosher salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat and add 3/4 cup each of the cheeses. Whisk until the cheese is melted.
Bake the cauliflower
Preheat the oven to 400 deg F. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower in the baking dish. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. In a small bowl combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter, remaining 1/4 cups of cheese, and chopped parsley. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the cauliflower. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the sauce is bubbly, crumbs are browned, and the cauliflower is tender.
Serve the Baked Cauliflower Cheese
This baked cauliflower cheese is an ideal side for any roast dinner. Enjoy!
