Cauliflower Gratin

I don’t know about you, but any recipe that instructs the cook to “bake until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly” is a recipe I want to be making. Bonus points for said recipe to call for just a handful of everyday ingredients, be gluten-free and vegetarian, good hot or cold and, it bears repeating, baked until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Come to (cheese-loving) Mama, Cauliflower Gratin!

I scrolled past this post from @Tragicallyhere on Instagram the other day and sauv blanc almost came shooting out of my nose. Listen, I GET IT. Cauliflower isn’t the end-all, be-all magic swap for anything carbilicious and good in your life, but Cauliflower Gratin is an actual, delicious dish that you must try. Trust me, this “mock and cheese” is totally craveable, and as easy as can be.

I mean, what vegetable doesn’t taste better blanketed under a luscious layer of two kinds of melted cheese? Cauliflower is no exception and this yummy, rustic side dish is proof.

Boiled cauliflower is drizzled with an easy, 5 minute homemade cheese sauce then, say it with me, baked until golden brown and bubbly. You got it! It’s the perfect thing to serve with a holiday dinner or simply anytime you need a side that everyone in the family will love. Cheese tends to hold that kind of power.

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Although I am not advertising Cauliflower Gratin as “healthy”, it’s a healthIER swap for mac and cheese if your family can’t get enough. They still get that gooey, cheesy texture and flavor, plus all the goodness that comes along with eating cruciferous cauliflower. Balance, right?

Start by cutting 1 large head cauliflower into large florets – you’ll need roughy 7 cups of florets. Add the cauliflower to a large pot of salted boiling water then boil until crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes, leaning on the crisp side side as they’ll bake for an additional 30-35 minutes. Drain the cauliflower then set aside.

Meanwhile, melt 3 Tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat then add 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour and whisk for 1 minute. I used King Arthur’s gluten-free flour. You can use whatever you have on hand but be sure it’s a smooth, non-gritty gluten-free flour. I grind my own brown rice flour for example, and it can be on the gritty side making it fine to bread foods with, but not so great when trying to achieve a smooth cheese sauce. Ya feel me? If you don’t need to eat gluten-free, AP flour is just fine.

Next whisk in 2 cups 2% milk that’s at room temperature then turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the sauce to a bubble. Turn the heat back down to medium then simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 1 minute. Finally, remove the saucepan from the heat then stir in 1/2 cup each freshly grated gruyere and parmesan cheeses, then stir until very smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

By the way, if you’ve never tried gruyere cheese before, I advise you to buy double the amount you’ll need for this dish because you will be snacking on it like crazy. SOO GOOD!

Spread a little bit of the cheese sauce into the bottom of a 8×11″ baking pan (or whatever you have on hand that’s similar in size,) then add the cooked cauliflower and drizzle with the luscious cheese sauce. YUM!!

Sprinkle 1/4 cup more of each cheese on top then bake for 30-35 minutes at 375 degrees, or until the top is brown and the cheese sauce is bubbly. A blast from the broiler at the end is the perfect way to get things sizzling.

Let the Cauliflower Gratin sit and thicken for 5 minutes or so before scooping and serving. This dish is not only delicious piping hot, but warm, or even room temperature. I can’t wait for you to dig in and try for yourself! Enjoy!