Name: Cauliflower Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 large cauliflower, broken into florets; 60g butter; 60g plain flour; 750ml whole milk; 150g sharp cheddar, grated; 50g gruyere, grated; 2 tsp dijon mustard; pinch nutmeg; 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs; 2 tbsp parmesan, grated; 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves; 2 tbsp butter (for crumb)

Servings

⏱ 15 Prep

🔥 35 Cook

🥕 Ingredients

1 large cauliflower, broken into florets
60g butter
60g plain flour
750ml whole milk
150g sharp cheddar, grated
50g gruyere, grated
2 tsp dijon mustard
pinch nutmeg
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
2 tbsp parmesan, grated
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
2 tbsp butter (for crumb)

👩‍🍳 Method

Preheat oven to 200°C. Cook cauliflower in well-salted boiling water 5 minutes — it should still have some bite. Drain very well.

Make sauce: melt butter, stir in flour and cook 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook over medium heat whisking until thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in most of the cheese, mustard, nutmeg and seasoning.

Arrange cauliflower in a large baking dish. Pour sauce over — every floret should be coated. Scatter remaining cheese over top.

Melt butter for crumb, toss with breadcrumbs, parmesan and thyme. Scatter over the cauliflower.

Bake 25–30 minutes until bubbling, golden and crisp on top. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

💡 Chef's Notes

A dish that elevates a humble vegetable into something genuinely impressive. The crumb topping is non-negotiable.