Cauliflower Cheese Mary Berry Food

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5.
• Wash the cauliflower thoroughly and place in a large saucepan of salted water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 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 heavy-based saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook over a gentle heat for 1 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 2 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the mustard and two thirds of the cheese and set aside.
• Arrange the cauliflower in an 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.

SMOKED HADDOCK AND CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Butter a wide 3-litre/5¼-pint ovenproof dish.
• Put the potatoes into a large saucepan, cover with water. Add salt and bring to the boil. Boil for 4 minutes, add the cauliflower and boil for another 4 minutes. Drain well and tip into the prepared dish. Season with pepper.
• Put the cornflour into a bowl, pour in the cream and whisk to combine. Season with pepper.
• Scatter half the cheese over the potato and cauliflower. Scatter over the herbs and top with the haddock. Pour the cream mixture in between the cracks and over the top. Scatter over the remaining cheese and the paprika.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden-brown and bubbling.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large saucepan. Tip in the onion and cook until softened, about 5 mins, stirring often. Add the cauliflower, potato, stock, milk and seasoning. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for about 30 mins until the cauliflower is soft and the potato almost collapsing.
• Whizz in a food processor or crush with a potato masher until you get a creamy, thick soup. Top up with more milk to thin a little if serving in mugs. You can make ahead up to 2 days in advance, cool, cover and leave in the fridge until needed, or freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to serve, warm through, ladle into mugs or bowls, top with the cheese pieces, then stir through before eating.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, then add 1 large cauliflower, broken into pieces, and cook for 5 mins - lift out a piece to test, it should be cooked.
• Drain the cauliflower, then tip into an ovenproof dish. Heat oven to 220C/200C/gas 7.
• Put the saucepan back on the heat and add 500ml milk, 4 tbsp flour and 50g butter.
• Keep whisking fast as the butter melts and the mixture comes to the boil - the flour will disappear and the sauce will begin to thicken. Whisk for 2 mins while the sauce bubbles and becomes nice and thick.
• Turn off the heat, stir in most of the 100g grated cheddar cheese and pour over the cauliflower. Scatter over the remaining cheese, and 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs if using.
• Put in the oven and bake for 20 mins until bubbling.

BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a very large saucepan, cook the cauliflower in boiling salted water for 5 mins. Then add the broccoli and cook for 3 mins more. Drain well and transfer to a large ovenproof dish.
• To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a small pan. When foaming, add flour and mustard powder, and cook for 1 min, stirring constantly. Take off the heat and add the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly to get rid of any lumps. Once half the milk has been added, return to the heat and add the remaining milk. Keep stirring and bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook for 2 mins, until thickened and smooth. Add most of the cheese and some seasoning then take off the heat and add the chives.
• Pour the sauce over the vegetables and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. This can be done the day before and kept covered in the fridge. Cook in the oven for 35-40 mins until bubbling, allowing an extra 5-10 mins cooking time if from the fridge.