Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Me and th’usband love cauliflower cheese .. I mean , like , really love it … so when I was given a cauliflower in my veg selection from my LiveWell scheme ( http://www.livewellderby.co.uk)

I decided to use this funky veg to make himself a very happy man …. It’s such a simple dish and so very underrated !! Most people have it as a side dish … Not us !! We just piled it high and added more veg !!!

Cauliflower Cheese bake

1 medium cauliflower , cut into florets
50g butter
50g plain flour
1 clove garlic
500 ml Semi skimmed milk
1 tsp coarse grain mustard
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
250g Extra Mature Cheddar cheese , grated

Boil the cauliflower florets in boiling water until tender . Drain and leave to one side.

Now melt your butter over a medium heat in a heavy bottomed pan , add the flour and stir quickly ( it should look like a splodge of dough) let this cook for 1 minute in the pan . Now add your milk a little at a time stirring constantly … if its lumpy just keep whisking away at it until a smooth white sauce is made .
Crush your garlic glove with the back of a knife and chuck it in the white sauce. One the sauce is bubbling away nicely add the mustard and nutmeg and stir well. Remove the pan from the heat now and throw in your cheese , reserving a handful for the top of the bake .Stir well until all the cheese is melted.

Now pop your cauliflower into a baking dish and pour your cheese sauce over the top ensuring all the cauliflower is drenched in your yummy cheese sauce. Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top and pop the whole thing into a preheated oven (180 degrees) for around 25- 30 minutes .

Serve with some lovely roasted veggies or like I do with buttery garlicky savoy cabbage ( the cabbage also came in the veg box .. and I just wilted it down in veg stock and sauteed garlic … easy peasy) !! Add some crispy bacon , a couple of sausages or a pork chop to your plate ! It’s your bake … enjoy it !!