Slow Cooker Spinach And Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Food

MAC AND CHEESE WITH CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 grated garlic clove in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until foamy. Stir in the panko, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the parsley.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the cauliflower during the last 4 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain the macaroni and cauliflower; set aside. Carefully wipe out the pot.
• Return the pot to the stove, add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and melt over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 grated garlic cloves and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, return to a simmer and cook until thickened and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and cheddar until smooth; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Stir the spinach into the cheese sauce until wilted, then add the macaroni and cauliflower; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the reserved cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is creamy and smooth. Divide among bowls and top with the herbed panko.

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH HIDDEN CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the package directions. Drain and reserve.
• Meanwhile, grate the cauliflower on the large holes of a box grater, or chop it into chunks and pulse to rice-size pieces in a food processor.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the grated cauliflower and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, another 5 minutes. Add the flour; cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Gradually add the milk while stirring constantly, then increase the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Take off the heat and stir in the French onion dip, Cheddar, Colby Jack, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt until melted. Add the cooked pasta and stir to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Top the pasta with the crushed potato chips. Bake until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes (be careful, the potato chips can burn easily).

SLOW COOKER MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over the pasta and drain, then put everything in a slow cooker and stir well. Season, cover and cook on low for 1 hr. Stir again, put the lid back on and cook for another 30 mins until the pasta is cooked and the sauce has reduced enough to coat the macaroni.
• Leave the lid off and reduce for the last 10 mins if you need to, or add a splash more milk - this will depend on the size of your slow cooker and the brand. Serve with extra cheese.

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE & SPINACH PASTA BAKES

Steps:

• For the tomato sauce, cook the sliced garlic in the oil for 1 min, then add the passata. Season, half-cover the pan and simmer for 20 mins until rich.
• Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Put the milk, flour and 50g butter into a pan. Heat, whisking non-stop, until smooth, then bubble for 3 mins, stirring to make sure any flouriness is lost. Cool for 5 mins, then stir in the mustard, most of the cheddar, half the blue cheese and half the nutmeg.
• Boil the penne and cauliflower for 8 mins in salted water until the pasta is almost cooked and the cauli is tender. Keep 2 tbsp water from the pan, then drain. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan, add the whole garlic clove, spinach, remaining nutmeg, salt and lots of black pepper. Stir for 2 mins, then remove the garlic clove.
• Set aside 300ml cheese sauce and mix the rest into the cauli and pasta. Divide half the tomato sauce between 6 dishes and top with some spinach. Fill with cauli mix, top with more spinach, then the rest of the tomato sauce. Top with the cheese sauce, cheeses and pine nuts. Cover with cling film, cool and chill for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To cook, defrost if frozen. Heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6. Cook on a baking sheet for 18-20 mins until golden and bubbling. Good with green salad or garlic bread.

CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with salt.
• Spray the baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
• Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and pat between several layers of paper towels to dry. Transfer the cauliflower to the baking dish and set aside.
• Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, and whisk in the cream cheese and mustard until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, salt, pepper and garlic and whisk just until the cheese melts, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, pour over the cauliflower, and stir to combine. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until browned and bubbly hot, about 15 minutes. Serve.

VEGAN CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Put the cauliflower and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cover, bring to a simmer and cook until the cauliflower is fully softened, about 20 minutes. Transfer the cooked cauliflower and all the cooking liquid to a food processor and set aside. Wipe out the saucepan.
• Heat the oil in the saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, miso, mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, cayenne and turmeric until well combined. Gradually whisk in the almond milk, nutritional yeast and brown sugar and bring just to a simmer. Remove from heat.
• Process the cauliflower until smooth. With the food processor running, gradually add the warm almond milk mixture and process until extra creamy.
• Transfer the cauliflower-almond milk mixture to a large saucepan over medium heat, add the vegan Cheddar and stir occasionally until it melts.
• Meanwhile, add the elbow macaroni to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Strain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
• Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Stir in some of the reserved pasta cooking liquid to reach your desired consistency. Add salt to taste. Serve hot with hot sauce on the side if using.

CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking dish with butter.
• Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until just crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well.
• In a large saucepan, heat the milk and butter over medium heat. Whisk in the dry mustard and add some hot sauce, salt and pepper. Just before the milk comes to a boil, turn off the heat and stir in the pepper jack and goat cheese. When melted and smooth, stir in the cauliflower. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle over the Parmesan.
• Bake until the top is golden brown and the mixture is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

CAULIFLOWER & SPINACH CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 200c.
• Steam or boil the cauliflower for approximately 5 mins until part-cooked.
• Cut the spinach into strips (this makes it easier to separate) and blanche.
• If you have more time and would prefer to make a proper cheese sauce then make a roux to your desired consistency (using flour, butter and milk) and add the cheese.
• Fling all three ingredients into an oven-safe bowl and mix well.
• Bake for 10 minutes until the cauliflower has cooked and the cheese is nice and melted.
• Serve immediately.

SLOW-COOKED CHEESY CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. slow cooker, combine cauliflower, soup and cheese. Cook, covered, on low for 5-6 hours or until cauliflower is tender. Stir in sour cream, salt and pepper., In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle over cauliflower.

SPINACH MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium non-stick pan. Add the leeks, stir well, then cover and cook for about 6 mins or until softened.
• Put the flour and mustard powder in a small bowl and gradually whisk in the milk. Pour into the pan with the leeks and stir with a wooden spoon until thickened. Continue stirring over a low heat while the pasta cooks. It will seem thick but will be diluted later.
• Drain the pasta, reserving the cooking water, then stir the paste into the sauce. Add the spinach and 1-11/2 ladlefuls of the water to make a spoonable sauce, then stir over the heat until the spinach has wilted. Stir in most of the cheese and taste for seasoning.
• Heat the grill. Tip the pasta mixture into a casserole dish, arrange the tomatoes over the top and scatter over the remaining cheese. Grill for 5-10 mins or until bubbling and golden.