Classic Cauliflower Cheese with Cheddar Béchamel

A classic English comfort food, Cauliflower Cheese is simple as it is delicious. This heartwarming recipe features lightly steamed fresh cauliflower topped with a rich luscious cheesy sauce made using top quality Welsh or English cheddar, light cream and a spoonful of hot English dry mustard. Baked in the oven for at lest half an hour until it's lightly golden and bubbling hot, this sensational Cauliflower Cheese can served as a side dish with a Sunday roast, or as a sinfully decadent treat all on its own with a big spoon to scoop up every last bit of the lovely scrumptious cheesy sauce.



Cauliflower Cheese 
Serves 2

1/2 head cauliflower, broken into large florets
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp plain flour
1 cup whole milk or light cream
1 tsp English mustard
2 cups good quality mature cheddar cheese, grated
salt and freshly ground black pepper


Preheat the oven to 375°F. Wash the cauliflower thoroughly and place in a large saucepan of salted water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cauliflower is almost tender, but still fairly firm. Tip into a colander and leave to drain. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a medium, heavy-based pan and stir in the flour. Cook over a gentle heat for one minute. Remove the pan from the heat and gradually add the milk, a little at a time, stirring well between each addition. Return the pan to a medium heat and bring the mixture to the boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for two minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the mustard and two thirds of the cheese and set aside. Arrange the cauliflower in and ovenproof baking dish. Carefully pour over the sauce, ensuring the cauliflower is completely covered. Scatter over the remaining cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden-brown and bubbling.