Gransnet forums

Food

Cauliflower cheese

(171 Posts)
Anja Wed 13-Feb-19 08:31:39

When my SiL came to pick the grandchildren up after work yesterday he asked conversationally (he’s chatty like that)

‘What are you having for tea?’

I said ‘Cauliflower and broccoli cheese’.

He wanted to know what we were having with it and was surprised when I said that was the meal, nothing else.

We always as children in Scotland just had this as a complete meal (well not the broccoli ? I don’t think it had been invented in the 1950s).

Do others find it odd that there was nothing being served with it?

breeze Wed 13-Feb-19 14:02:15

Side dish here. Even vegetarian son has it as a side dish grin with a nut roast or whatever veg dish.

I make mine with stork and semi skimmed milk then a little cheddar in the sauce (with nutmeg, pepper, bay leaf) and a little sprinkle on the top.

I have made a broccoli version before but never mixed the two. I may now though Anja

Shirls52000 Wed 13-Feb-19 14:07:55

Would have it as a main, nice thick sauce and lots of cheese, served with baked potato and peas, that’s tomorrow’s tea sorted ??

Day6 Wed 13-Feb-19 14:10:42

My Mum used to do it with her lovely, thick cheese sauce, but she'd serve it with rashers of crispy bacon.

I get very cross if I order cauliflower cheese in a restaurant and am served cauli so al dente it's basically raw, with a tiny drizzle of thin cheese sauce that doesn't even coat it. That is not how it's supposed to be.

HannahLoisLuke Wed 13-Feb-19 14:12:17

I like it with a baked potato and plenty of butter.

JanaNana Wed 13-Feb-19 14:15:17

A main dish for us also, must be really thick cheese sauce. What I find really odd are people who have this included as part of their Sunday roast dinner.

Barmeyoldbat Wed 13-Feb-19 14:18:11

Day6 I know what you mean about ordering it in a cafe/restaurant or pub and its comes out wrong. Once had it served with a watery sauce and a bit of cheese on top. Sent it back with the message asking if the chef knew how to cook a cauliflower cheese properly and if not I would show him. He came out and apologised and I gave him my recipe.

Barmeyoldbat Wed 13-Feb-19 14:19:34

Forgo to say going to try worcester sauce and mustard in mine , sounds yummy.

ooohsopink Wed 13-Feb-19 14:28:31

Both - I make it as a main supper dish if we’ve had a larger midday meal, or as a side for a roast lunch.

I also make a large amount of cauliflower cheese so we have leftovers, then turn the leftovers into cauliflower cheese soup for later in the week (or to put in the freezer).

Whitford8 Wed 13-Feb-19 14:50:10

I don't think there any hard and fast rules on this dish. However if I served this dish on its own to my husband he would ask if the meat was on another plate

breeze Wed 13-Feb-19 15:05:59

I have made a dauphinoise before with chicken in it. So I guess if you did want to add a bit of protein you could put a bit of poached chicken in. Make it into a more substantial meal.

For a vegetarian version, you could add some soya or butter beans.

Witzend Wed 13-Feb-19 15:09:11

I do a cauliflower/macaroni cheese combo as an evening meal.
Extra cheese and breadcrumbs on top, whack under the grill - delish. It's one of dh's favourites.

Unless we'd had a very big lunch (once in a blue moon here) I wouldn't think cauliflower cheese on its own would be enough.
My mother used to do it with chips. Also delish.

Witzend Wed 13-Feb-19 15:13:50

Yes, I agree that it's not often done properly 'out'.
Cauliflower overcooked, or not drained properly, so it makes the sauce watery, very often not nearly enough cheese in the sauce - it must be good strong Cheddar.
And if you're really unlucky, all the above.

annodomini Wed 13-Feb-19 15:25:10

The worst cauliflower cheese I ever encountered was in the canteen of the University of Caen in Normandy - so much for French cuisine! A close runner up was hospital food here in Cheshire, It claimed to be a pasta cauliflower cheese bake. But I was hard put to it to discern which bits were pasta and which were cauliflower. shock

breeze Wed 13-Feb-19 15:27:15

Sorry, last post should've said 'for a more substantial' veggie version! I know it's already veggie blush

CanOnlyTry Wed 13-Feb-19 15:41:14

I could happily eat it as a main meal, what's wrong with that? You've got protein in the cheese (I make my own sauce with strong cheddar) and cauliflower and broccoli are brilliant veggies!
Good food and very nice for a change plus uber-economical. What's not to love? thanks

jangeo44 Wed 13-Feb-19 15:41:47

Main for me with roast potatoes or as a side dish if we have people to dinner. Husband doesnt like it

Arto1s Wed 13-Feb-19 15:46:55

We also have cauliflower cheese as a main dish, and also as a side sometimes. We love it!

cavewoman Wed 13-Feb-19 16:03:08

This Essex girl has cauliflower/leek/broccoli cheese with chips! Usually Mccains "Gorgeous".

I may sometimes add homemade Glamorgan sausages as this tricks OH into thinking he's had a "proper"meal!

Mamabear4u Wed 13-Feb-19 16:21:12

I just love it, but it must be fresh veggies frozen just tastes nasty and the texture is yukky.
But come Fall and Winter it is a main dish sometimes three times a week.

Juggernaut Wed 13-Feb-19 16:27:40

Always as a side dish here in our bit of Cheshire!
Normally served alongside bacon chops or good sausages! (Can't bring myself to even look at a pale, floppy, not quite the right colour sausage!)

weenanni59 Wed 13-Feb-19 16:41:13

I have always had it as a main dish and it was often served as the vegetarian main option in my work canteen .
I love it ?

Saggi Wed 13-Feb-19 16:46:18

Side dish served with meat and potatoes usually..... but my mother served it up for after school tea sometimes with bit of boiled gammon or fried bacon She was from north though so perhaps a northern thing.

hallgreenmiss Wed 13-Feb-19 17:04:05

I make it as a main meal, usually when there's a lump of past its best cheese lurking at the back of the fridge. I fry up some bacon, (smoked), and mushrooms for the cheese sauce. I bake it in a moderately hot oven to crisp and brown the cheese topping.

Reader56 Wed 13-Feb-19 17:07:29

Cheese sauce makes anything wonderful! Need good strong cheese and a little mustard, a bit of the veg water if the sauce is a bit too thick...yummy! Love it with broccoli too, also it’s great with hard boiled eggs. Only problem is it’s rather calorific ?

Reader56 Wed 13-Feb-19 17:09:23

Oh forgot, always have it by itself, far too filling with anything else.