Creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is the delicious way to enjoy best of both the dishes, without any hassle. It is superb vegetarian option for a Sunday roast, a cozy weeknight dinner, or holiday mains. Instructions included for air fryer and oven.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: British
Keyword: air fryer cauliflower cheese, cauliflower cheese
Servings: 6
Author: Sandhya Hariharan
Ingredients
1medium cauliflowerbroken into large florets (450g)
210gmacaroni
Cheese Sauce
50gbutter about 4 tbsp
56gplain flour about 4 tbsp
250mlwhole milk
250mldouble cream
1tspdijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
75gmature cheddargrated
½tspnutmegoptional
On the top
50gred leicester cheeseor monterey jack cheese
50gcheddar cheese
3tbspwhite bread crumbs
Instructions
Bring a large pan of water to the boil, then add macaroni pasta. Cook for 4 minutes. Then add cauliflower pieces, and cook for additional 4-5 mins – lift out a piece to test, it should be cooked. Drain and add it to an oven proof dish.
1 medium cauliflower, 210 g macaroni
Simultaneously, make a cheese sauce.Heat butter in a pan. When melted, add the flour and cook continuously in low flame to create a roux.
50 g butter, 56 g plain flour, 250 ml whole milk, 250 ml double cream, salt and pepper to taste, 75 g mature cheddar
Then add the milk and cream a little at a time first and continue to whisk until thick.
Add the dijon mustard, remaining cream / milk and a pinch of nutmeg and stir and cook until the sauce bubbles.Switch off the flame and add cheddar cheese.
1 tsp dijon mustard, ½ tsp nutmeg
Pour the cheese sauce over until fully coated. Scatter red Leicester cheese , cheddar cheese and bread crumbs all over.
50 g red leicester cheese, 50 g cheddar cheese
Air frying
Transfer the dish to the air fryer basket. Air fry at 200C for 5-6 minutes until the cheese has melted and bubbling and the top is brown.
3 tbsp white bread crumbs
Baking in the Oven
Preheat the oven to 200C. If you would like to bake, place the the dish in the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese has melted and bubbling and the top is brown.
Notes
If you find the sauce a bit too thick, dilute it with 100ml hot water from the kettle.Don't have cream, make the cheese sauce with milk.