Cauliflower cheese recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to stop cauliflower cheese from going watery? ›

Make sure you drain the cauliflower really well after it's boiled up and before you add it to the dish, otherwise it will end up too watery.

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

Thick slices of salty gammon or thin, crispy bacon perfectly contrast the milder, creamier flavour of cauliflower cheese. Adding meat also adds protein and helps create a more filling and decadent dinner.

You'll want to cook the cauliflower before anything else to better extract the moisture. Chop one medium head into florets, transfer them to a medium pot filled halfway with water, add a generous pinch of salt, cover, and let them steam until they're fork tender.

Helps retain color: Cauliflower can sometimes turn brown or lose its vibrant white color when cooked. However, the acid in lemon juice can help prevent discoloration and maintain the cauliflower's white appearance.

Rustle up one of the greatest comfort foods: cauliflower cheese. It makes a perfect side dish or vegetarian main meal.

Cauliflower Cheese is a British dish that is served as a side or even as a main (vegetarian!) It's a cauliflower bake, smothered in a creamy cheese sauce that's popped in the oven until bubbly and golden.

For surprisingly flavorful and creamy mashed cauliflower, cook your florets not in water but in a gently simmering pot of milk seasoned with garlic and thyme. When the cauliflower is mashed (or blended), the pectin in the cauliflower will thicken and smooth the mash.

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

To prepare the cauliflower take off most of the outer stalks, leaving just a few tender ones. After that slice off the stalk at the base, then use a saucepan where it fits snuggly and place it on the hob. Pour in about 2.5cm of boiling water.

Why does cauliflower cheese go watery in the oven? ›

Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if its in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery.

It can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to cook. It is possible to freeze cauliflower cheese but unfortunately the sauce can sometimes turn thin and sligtly watery on defrosting, so we prefer not to freeze the dish if at all possible.

While freezing cauliflower cheese is possible, be prepared for a very watery sauce when you re-heat. If you're feeding a crowd , you can store your cauliflower cheese for up to three days in the fridge, then when ready to bake just double that 20 minute cooking time to allow for the dish being chilled.

Since fresh mozzarella retains at least 52 percent water, it will benefit from a bit of drying time. Instead of slicing the mozzarella and immediately adding the cheese, set the slices on a paper or tea towel to absorb excess moisture; let them rest for at least 15 minutes.

"Be sure to give each floret a bit of room so that the they have space for airflow. I'd also recommend baking them on a silicone baking mat," says Blay. The edges will get much crispier than they would if you baked them on parchment paper.

You can thicken cheese sauce further by adding more flour or even using a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch or flour with a cup of water. The cold water will create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the cheese sauce over medium heat, and let the sauce boil and thicken.

The dish may get watery if the cauliflower is overcooked – that's when the florets release more water – or if you haven't drained the florets well after steaming/boiling them. Make sure the florets are properly drained and that you stick to the exact instructions from the recipe.