A slice of comfort: Cauliflower and smoked cheese gratin 

A slice of comfort: Cauliflower and smoked cheese gratin

SERVES 6-8

1kg cauliflower (approx 1 large head)

70g butter

50g panko or other fresh breadcrumbs, dried

30g plain flour

550ml cold full-cream milk

1 bay leaf

1 tbsp salt

70g grated parmesan

1 bunch chives, snipped

pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

100g grated smoked gouda or other smoked creamy cheese, such as mozzarella

  • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Cut the cauliflower into large even-sized florets. Boil for 3 minutes, then scoop out of the water and lay them in a gratin dish.
  • Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Melt 30g of the butter in a small saucepan and add the breadcrumbs. Mix to combine, then set aside.
  • Next, make the béchamel sauce. Melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan set over a medium heat. Add the flour and cook for about 2 minutes while mixing with a wooden spoon. Gradually add the milk, then the bay leaf. Switch to a whisk and whisk the mixture so you don’t have many lumps, then go back to a wooden spoon and continuously stir the mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. Once the mixture simmers, it’s done.
  • Remove and discard the bay leaf and add the salt, parmesan, chives, nutmeg and a few cracks of black pepper. Mix well and taste. It should be well seasoned. Pour it over the cauliflower and try to spread it out evenly, then sprinkle the smoked cheese over the top. Season with salt and pepper and bake for 15-20 minutes. At this stage, remove it from the oven and sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the topping is golden. If it needs more browning, put it under the grill for a minute or two, but don’t walk away; it can burn easily! Serve immediately.

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