Cauliflower Mac and cheese

Nightmare_Queen88
Nightmare_Queen88 Posts: 304 Member
in Recipes
I've been dying to make this dish and I've tried and failed once. So I am a little hesitant to try again. Does anyone have a great recipe for this that'll make me forget about good 'ole traditional Mac n cheese? :)

Replies

  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    Only real mac and cheese does the trick for me... Cauliflower is good with cheese but not the same as mac and cheese.
  • AlyssaPetsDogs
    AlyssaPetsDogs Posts: 421 Member
    I'm going to be honest with you - I tried making cauliflower Mac n cheese and it was just disappointing. It wasn't even remotely similar. It wasn't bad tasting... but it tasted like cauliflower and cheese sauce.

    I was sad because I love cauliflower swaps, but I'm thinking that I'll just have Mac n cheese as a cheat meal one of these days or over the holidays when I'm home.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,224 Member
    Is it just cauliflower in cheese sauce? I always thought Cauliflower Cheese was a thing on it's own, not a substitute for mac n cheese...
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,092 Member
    I've had it where cauliflower and butternut squash (both roasted first) was subbed for some, but not all, of the macaroni, and it was good. It's got cheese in it, so you even eliminating all the macaroni is not going to make it a low-cal dish.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I've tried it and well, it just tasted like cauliflower, lol. I really don't recommend it, honestly, you still get the calories from the cheese but it's wasted on a very average dish.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    edited October 2016
    Like this? I suppose you can chop the cauliflower instead of mashing it and it would be the texture you're looking for. http://www.skinnytaste.com/loaded-cauliflower-mash-bake/
    loadedcauliflowermash-2-550x825.jpg
  • Nightmare_Queen88
    Nightmare_Queen88 Posts: 304 Member
    Gee thanks for all the amazing recipes guys. Lol.
  • ardysedwardsmcgrath
    ardysedwardsmcgrath Posts: 120 Member
    this sounds delicious&looks soo yummy! :)but i luv cauli.. ill have to try it sometime...
  • AlyssaPetsDogs
    AlyssaPetsDogs Posts: 421 Member
    Nightmare_Queen88 wrote: »
    Gee thanks for all the amazing recipes guys. Lol.
    I was only being honest to save you the time and heartbreak.... but if you go on Pinterest for cauliflower Mac, you'll see lots of them. The one I made had cream, cheese, mustard powder, and cauliflower. Maybe something else.
  • khhregister
    khhregister Posts: 229 Member
    Nightmare_Queen88 wrote: »
    I've been dying to make this dish and I've tried and failed once. So I am a little hesitant to try again. Does anyone have a great recipe for this that'll make me forget about good 'ole traditional Mac n cheese? :)

    I would invent a new recipe from scratch. This is how I would do it:

    Step 1: make roasted cauliflower. Since I've had it roasted, I don't want it any other way. Chop up a head of cauliflower, toss in a big bowl with 1TB oil. Roast in a 400 degree oven about 30-40 minutes, stirring once every 15 minutes or so.
    Step 2: make a cream sauce with a little cheese. I do this by making first a roux (equal parts butter + flour or oil + flour - for better nuttier flavour I would go with butter here. ) 2TB butter + 2TB flour. Melt the butter first in a large frying pan or a saucepan, then add the flour. Stir gently - it will turn medium brown. Slowly add some broth and milk while stirring until it is the consistency you like. For me, this usually means about a cup of broth and 1/2 of milk.
    Add a Tablespoon of sherry for more complex flavour.
    Add 1/2 - 1 cup of grated cheese. Use sharp cheddar or some other very strong flavoured cheese so you don't have to add so much. Stir in gently until it is all melted.
    Step 3: Mix in your roasted cauliflower.
    Done. Eat.


  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Many of these "substitutes" are actually pretty good in their own right...but in my experience they fail miserably as replacements for something you actually want or are craving...

    Just eat mac 'n cheese if you want mac 'n cheese.

    I would agree with this.

    I adore mashed cauliflower, but it certainly isn't mashed potatoes!
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    I love cauliflower and cheese (I just love cauliflower). It's no mac-n-cheese. I suppose if I REALLY wanted mac-n-cheese I would figure out how to have the real deal in my calories.
  • subakwa
    subakwa Posts: 347 Member
    edited October 2016
    Cauliflower cheese is cauliflower cheese, not a macaroni cheese substitute.

    That said it is lovely but you need to do it right.

    - small pieces of cauliflower
    - Bit of mustard in a rich cheese sauce using a proper mature cheddar cheese:
    - Cook it all together in the oven with extra cheese on top (don't boil the cauliflower first)
    - Serve with HP sauce or Worcestershire sauce.

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