Macaroni Cauliflower Cheese

A comforting vegetarian pasta bake featuring a hidden cauliflower-infused cheese sauce topped with melted cheddar and baked until golden.

Cook Time

30 mins

Produces

4 people

Allergies

Vegetarian

Vegan

Dairy Free

Gluten Free

Ingredients

Dairy

50
g

Butter

plus extra for greasing

500
ml

Milk

150
g

Cheddar

mature, finely grated

GrainsCereals

250
g

Macaroni

dried, or similar small pasta shapes

50
g

Plain Flour

NutsSeeds

1
g

Salt

optional

1
g

Black Pepper

freshly ground

Vegetables

1
piece

Cauliflower

small, approximately 775g, leaves and stalk removed, cut into florets

Steps

Preheat oven to 200°C and grease a 2 litre dish with butter.
Boil cauliflower florets in a large pan for 12 minutes until very soft then drain.
Boil macaroni in the same pan for 10 minutes until al dente.
Melt butter in a saucepan and whisk in flour to form a smooth paste.
Gradually whisk in milk and simmer for 8 minutes until thickened.
Stir in two-thirds of the cheese and season with salt and pepper.
Add cauliflower to the sauce and blend until smooth with a hand blender.
Mix drained pasta with the sauce in the dish, top with remaining cheese, and bake for 25 minutes.