Four-cheese cauliflower gratin

Combine four cheeses – mozzarella, cheddar or gruyère, cream cheese and parmesan – to make this decadent Sunday lunch side. Add truffle oil for luxury

Prep:20 mins
Cook:1 hrs 50 mins

Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 279
fat 19g
saturates 11g
carbs 10g
sugars 6g
fibre 2g
protein 16g
salt 1g

Ingredients

2 cauliflowers
125g ball mozzarella, torn into pieces
200g gruyère or cheddar, grated
30g crispy onions
25g butter
25g plain flour
300ml whole milk
30g English mustard
100g cream cheese
1 tsp truffle oil (optional)
100g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated

Method

For the sauce, melt the butter in a shallow saucepan. When it’s just starting to sizzle, stir in the flour to make a paste. Cook for a minute, then gradually whisk in the milk until you have a smooth, thick sauce. Stir through the mustard, cream cheese, truffle oil (if using) and parmesan, and cook over a low heat until thickened. Season with lots of black pepper.
Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Trim the leaves off the cauliflowers and slice into rough steaks about 1cm thick. Don’t worry about the outside bits not being slices – it will all be used. Assemble the dish a bit like a lasagne. Spoon a quarter of the cheese sauce into a large baking dish and spread it out, then add half of the cauliflower. Repeat the process, finishing with a thick layer of sauce. Scatter over the mozzarella, and the gruyère or cheddar and crispy onions.
Bake for 1 hr 30-1 hr 45 mins until the cheese is golden and the cauliflower is soft but not mushy. If you want a golden finish, you can grill it (keep an eye on it) or leave it in when you turn the oven up for the crackling, if making the salt & vinegar roast pork as well. Once baked, leave to stand for 10 mins before serving in the middle of the table.