Cauliflower Gratin- No Mush Just Yum!
Hello friends!
Welcome to November! Are we scrolling faster through recipes as we enter this month? Days are going by faster and before we know it, we’ll be putting on our eating pants and enjoying some holiday food! What, you don’t plan your outfits knowing you’ll be sampling lots of deliciousness? 😉
Okay, okay–if you’re here to learn about a healthier side that doesn’t compromise on flavor, then I do urge you to keep reading.
This recipe for Cauliflower Gratin is by Clean Food Crush. You can find the recipe right -> here!
The Star of The Cauliflower Gratin is…The Cauliflower!
I’ll be honest that I wasn’t always crazy about cauliflower but this recipe could change the mind of even the pickiest eaters. I’d hope so, at least!
The key here is–don’t over-steam the cauliflower florets. The last thing you’d want is for the cauliflower to turn to mush. If you do not have a steamer basket, then I would recommend tossing the florets into boiling water for a few minutes. Leave them in only until they are fork tender, but not super soft. You still want the cauliflower to have a crunch when you take a bite.
Once you take the cauliflower out let it rest long enough for it to not be moist anymore. It’s best to do this right at the start of cooking. That way once you’re ready to assemble, the cauliflower will be ready to go!
The Cheese Sauce That Doesn’t Weigh You Down!
Don’t get me wrong. I love cheese and cheese sauces, but sometimes I actually do want to get more stuff done around the house after dinner. Heavier sauces tend to make you want to take nap, right? Lay down, rest, digest. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that cheese sauces consist of milk or heavy cream in addition to all the cheese!
While this cheese sauce has cheddar and parmesan, the liquid in this is actually almond milk! I feel like this really adds to the creaminess, but also keep it from being too heavy.
What really helps this sauce is the seasoning, as well. It’s just a touch of nutmeg, black pepper, and salt.
Can This Be Made Ahead Of Time?
I’d say that this could be made ahead of time. The cauliflower, the bacon–of course. One part I’d probably save for last is the cheese sauce. Sure you can re-heat it, but eh–I would advise against it. So, if you prep everything else and just have the cheese sauce left to make then you’ll have this ready in no-time.
You could put everything together, but the only thing I’d watch out for is keeping the cauliflower coated in the cheese sauce for too long before baking. Again–you don’t want the mush!
So if you need to wait 10-30 minutes before putting this in the oven–perhaps you’re traveling–then you should be fine! You’ll still be left with a cauliflower gratin with a fabulous texture.
Grey’s Grade: 5/5
This is a side dish I could foresee at a Thanksgiving table–without a doubt. It’s creamy, well-seasoned, and just plain tasty! This cauliflower gratin is another great option if you wanted to skip the potato gratin. It’s certainly much lighter but certainly not lighter in flavor.
Why should you give this a try? The ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store. The entire dish can be done and on the table in under an hour. The flavor is THERE! This cauliflower gratin can make a cauliflower lover out of anyone–at least those who are looking for a satisfying way to get this veggie into their diets, haha!
All in all, this is a fantastic side that you can bring to any gathering. Doesn’t matter what season, you can’t go wrong with anything that has a cheese sauce. Well, that’s my outlook at least!
Do you have a favorite side that you make during the holidays? Let me know in the comments! 🙂
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