Receta Mac and Cheese Style Cauliflower
This recipe was in Vegetarian Times as an alternative for macaroni and cheese. I wouldn’t go that far. Is it great? Yes. But it is cauliflower. Not mac. Maybe you could had some macaroni and sort of make a ‘cut’ mac and cheese to quench your cravings.
I was drawn to the recipe especially because it used both nutritional yeast, the token vegan cheese substitute, and shredded cheddar cheese. I don’t know why I never thought to combine the two – I always treated them as if they were mutually exclusive.
I guess you could add 1/2 cup extra shredded cheese and eliminate the nutritional yeast but that stuff really does have a nice flavor and plus I’ve got other recipes on the blog for you to try with it.
The original recipe also called for breadcrumbs to be added to the top which may have helped mimic mac and cheese a little more but I find their addition more annoying (in a preparation way) than gratifying.
Mac and Cheese Style Cauliflower (adapted from Vegetarian Times)
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower (1.5 lb), cut into medium florets (8 cups)
- 2 Tbsp butter or SmartBalance buttery spread
- 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 cups low fat milk
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 egg yolks
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350*F.
Bring a large part of salted water to a boil and add cauliflower florets. Boil 5 minutes. Drain and reserve 1 cup cooking liquid. Set cauliflower aside.
Melt butter in same pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Whisk in milk, garlic, and reserved cooking liquid and cook 10 more minutes, stirring constantly. This thickens the sauce.
Remove from heat and add cheese, nutritional yeast, egg yolks, and pepper. Stir until combined and then fold in cauliflower.
Coat a 13×9″ baking dish with cooking spray. Spread cauliflower mixture into baking dish. Bake 30 minutes.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 40 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 6