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    Cauliflower Au Gratin Recipe

    Published January 28, 2020. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    For all you veggie lovers, this cauliflower au gratin recipe is for you.  Made with a delicious cheesy mornay sauce and topped off with breadcrumbs for an incredible vegetable side dish.

    baking dish of cauliflower au gratin with a spoonful of it


     

    Just like in my Potatoes Au Gratin or my Sweet Potato Gratin, this is super creamy, cheesy and quite delectable.  It’s a great vegetable side dish excellent for serving up to guests or family, and the best part is that it is really easy to make.

    What Is Cauliflower Au Gratin

    Au gratin simply means browned on top, and usually with breadcrumbs or cheese.  While most commonly using potatoes, you simply swap those out with cauliflower or you are free to use any of your favorite vegetables.

    What Is the Cheesy Sauce

    The sauce that that cauliflower is coated in before baking is a mornay sauce which uses gruyere and parmesan cheeses that are whisked into a bechamel, which is thickened milk using a roux.  It is incredibly cheesy and delicious and would go excellent on pasta or even some roasted vegetables.

    Ingredients

    Here is a list of ingredients needed to make this dish:

    • Cauliflower
    • Mornay Sauce
    • Breadcrumbs
    • Sea Salt and Pepper

    How to Make It

    Start by removing the stem and leaves from the head of cauliflower by trimming around the outside vegetables.

    trimming a head of cauliflower on a cutting board

    Trim up the cauliflower into smaller bite size pieces or florettes.  This will also help it cook a little quicker.

    making florettes from a head of cauliflower

    Cook the cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water for 5 minutes.  Drain well in a colander.

    boiling a bowl of cauliflower in a pot of water

    Transfer the cooked cauliflower to a baking dish or casserole dish and mix in the mornay sauce until completely combined.

    mixing mornay with a baking dish of cooked cauliflower

    Top off by evenly sprinkling on breadcrumbs and bake in the oven at 400° for 20-25 minutes.

    sprinkling breadcrumbs overtop of cauliflower with mornay sauce

    Serve.

    What to Serve It With

    Cauliflower au gratin would go excellent with these main entrée meals:

    Make-Ahead and Storage

    How to Reheat: Cover with foil or an oven-safe lid and cook at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until hot.

    Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 1 day ahead.  Simply reheat 30 minutes before serving. 

    How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    How to Freeze: Cover and place in the freezer for up 2 months.  Thaw 1 day in the refrigerator before reheating.

    Chef Billy Parisi

    chef notes + tips

    It is very important that the cauliflower is drained completely before mixing with the sauce or else it will become runny.

    baked cauliflower au gratin in a baking dish with a spoon

    More Amazing Side Dish Recipes

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    Let's Cook - Chef Billy Parisi

    Cauliflower Au Gratin Recipe

    Make this delicious cauliflower au gratin made with cheesy mornay sauce and breadcrumbs for an incredible vegetable side dish.
    Servings: 8
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes

    Ingredients 

    Instructions

    • Remove the leaves and stem from the head of cauliflower and then trim the cauliflower into bite-size florettes.
    • Add them to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 5 minutes.
    • Drain the cooked cauliflower very well before transferring to a baking dish.
    • Pour in the mornay sauce and mix until completely coated and mixed in.
    • Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumbs over top, covering the cheesy cauliflower.
    • Bake at 400° for 20 to 25 minutes or until browned on top and especially around the outside of the inside of the baking dish.
    • Add an optional garnish of parsley and serve.

    Notes

    Chef Notes:
    • How to Reheat: Cover with foil or a oven safe lid and cook at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until hot.
    • Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 1 day ahead. Simply reheat 30 minutes before serving.
    • How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • How to Freeze: Cover and place in the freezer for up 2 months. Thaw 1 day in the refrigerator before reheating.
    • It is very important that the cauliflower be drained completely before mixing with the sauce or else it will become runny.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 10gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 254mgPotassium: 403mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 475IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 377mgIron: 1mg
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, French