Recipe
December 13, 2023
Cauliflower Mac ‘N’ Cheese
“This sauce is similar in taste to the classic cheesy variety, but it’s lighter and healthier, thanks to the cauliflower.” – Michael Smith
Directions
Yield: Serves 6 or 12 as a side
Make Mac ‘n’ Cheese
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Turn on convection fan, if you have one.
- Bring large pot of salted water to a furious boil. Add pasta and cook until tender yet still slightly chewy, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta and reserve.
- Toss half of cauliflower florets and chopped stem into pot. Add milk and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook until cauliflower is tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to high-speed blender. Add garlic, mustard, paprika and salt. Carefully purée until smooth. (Hot liquids are dangerous — they can violently erupt. For safety, drape kitchen towel over blender, start slowly, then gradually increase speed.)
- Return sauce to pot. Reserve 1 cup of cheese for crust. Whisk in remaining cheese, until smooth. Stir in pasta and remaining cauliflower florets. Transfer to 13″ x 9″ baking dish.
Make Crust and Bake
- Toss butter into small saucepan over medium-high heat. Swirl gently as it melts, steams, foams and lightly browns. Remove from heat and add caraway seeds, swirling and gently toasting until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Break bread into food processor and pulse, grinding into rough crumbs. Add butter mixture and reserved 1 cup of cheese. Pulse just enough to mix into coarse crumbs.
- Spread crumbs in thick, even layer over mac ‘n’ cheese. Bake until goldenbrown and bubbly, about 45 minutes.
Source:
Recipes from Farmhouse Vegetables by Michael Smith. ©2023 Michael Smith. Photography by Al Douglas. Published by Penguin, an imprint of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved