Cauliflower cheese is a classic Irish or English side dish which is usually served to accompany a roasted chicken or beef dinner. It’s also a perfect side for turkey dinner at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

This side is simple yet delicious. One of our family favorites, often served for Sunday lunch or dinner, this is an extremely easy side dish to prepare.

I love to pop this cheesy cauliflower dish into the oven once the roast has been cooked and has been taken out of the oven to rest.

Ingredients for Cauliflower Cheese Casserole:

 

• 1 medium head of cauliflower broken into florets.
• 2 ounces of salted butter
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• 1 and 3/4 cups of whole milk
• 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
• 1 cup of mature cheddar cheese grated
• salt and pepper to season

 

Before you get started preheat the oven to 375 F.  I usually cook this side dish to accompany a roast chicken or beef, so my oven is usually already hot and ready to go.

Wash the cauliflower florets. Place in a large saucepan of salted water.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes until the cauliflower is slightly tender but not fully cooked.  Drain the cauliflower and set aside.

I usually steam the cauliflower rather than boiling it.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and stir to form a roux. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute stirring constantly so that the roux does not stick.

Remove the pan from the heat, and add a little of the milk, whisking all the time. Gradually add the milk whisking well with each addition to form a smooth sauce.

Return to the heat and bring to a simmer stirring constantly. Cook for 2 minutes whisking continuously to avoid burning.

Add the mustard and two-thirds of the cheese. Stir to combine and melt the cheese. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste. I often find there’s no need to add extra salt because of the intensity of the cheddar cheese flavor.

Set the sauce aside.

Butter an oven-proof baking dish and then arrange the half-cooked cauliflower florets in the dish.

Completely cover the cauliflower with the cheese sauce.  Sprinkle the top with the remainder of the cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.

And there you have it – one of my all time favorite vegetable sides. This is comfort food at its finest, and the tastiest way I know to serve cauliflower.

I recommend using a sharp cheddar cheese for the sauce to give the dish a tangy flavor.  Of course, I’m biased being Irish, but I love to use Dubliner Irish cheddar in this dish. I find Irish cheddar to be far sharper than any American variety I have ever found.

Here’s the printable recipe:

I hope your family enjoys this classic cauliflower side as much as mine does.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom