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Vegan Cauliflower cheese

Vegan Cauliflower Cheese

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine British
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Baking dish or casserole dish A medium-sized one, about 9x9 inches, works well for even layering.
  • saucepan For making the creamy vegan cheese sauce.
  • Whisk Helps get the sauce smooth and lump-free.
  • Oven This is a classic oven baked cauliflower recipe, so preheat and get it ready.
  • Blender (optional) If you want a super smooth sauce, blend all cheese sauce ingredients before heating.

Ingredients
  

For the cauliflower

  • 1 large head of cauliflower chopped into large florets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

For the vegan cheese sauce

  • 2 tablespoons vegan butter or olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups unsweetened plant-based milk soy or oat milk work best
  • ½ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric for color and slight earthiness
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon juice for tang

For topping

  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs use gluten-free if needed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegan butter
  • A sprinkle of smoked paprika or thyme optional but recommended

Instructions
 

Roast the cauliflower

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a lined baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes until lightly golden and tender. This step amps up the flavor and is a must for any oven baked cauliflower dish.

Make the vegan cheese sauce

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt vegan butter and stir in flour to create a roux. Slowly whisk in the plant milk until smooth. Add nutritional yeast, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Stir until the sauce thickens—this is your creamy cauliflower cheese sauce that’ll remind you of traditional cheese recipes, without the dairy.

Assemble the casserole

  1. Transfer the roasted cauliflower into a baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the florets, making sure everything is nicely coated. It should look indulgent—this is the heart of any cauliflower cheese casserole.

Add the topping and bake

  1. Mix breadcrumbs with olive oil or vegan butter, then sprinkle on top. Add a dash of smoked paprika or herbs if you like. Bake for another 10 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.

Serve hot

  1. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. It firms up slightly as it sits, making it ideal for slicing into neat portions.