Cauliflower mac and cheese. Cauliflower is the star of this recipe - alongside macaroni and cheesy sauce. It’s a cheesy family favorite loaded with healthy goodness to make any day of the week. And the right way to upgrade your favorite classic mac and cheese. Without a doubt, it’s the ultimate comfort meal!
Have you ever tried veggies in mac and cheese? Let me tell you, the veggie version is absolutely packed with nutrients. That way, your favorite comfort food doesn’t always need to be loaded with carb. You can substitute it with veggies - and in this case, cauliflower.
Cauliflower mac and cheese. Mac and cheese loaded with nutritious cauliflower. All you need to do is replace half or whole of macaroni with cauliflower for a low carb dish. These beautiful florets are obviously a nutritious addition to your diet.
How To Make Cauliflower Mac And Cheese
With the key elements, you have two options in this recipe - using a combination of macaroni and cauliflower or just cauliflower. I prefer the former, as I love some carb in my dish. The first step is boiling the pasta and cauliflower. Macaroni requires longer cooking time than cauliflower. Once pasta is half cooked, add cauliflower and cook them together. Don’t forget to reserve the pasta water.
Next, you will need to make the cheese sauce. Start with melting butter and then sautéing onions and garlic. Cook until the onions turn soft and translucent. Over low heat, add flour. Stir continuously to cook the flour. Now, you will need to add milk making sure that it’s fully incorporated into the flour mixture. Continuous stirring is vital at this stage.
After seasoning the cheese sauce with a little salt and pepper, stir in dijon mustard, paprika and cayenne pepper, the three ingredients that’ll level up the flavor. Now, add in one of the most important ingredients of this cauliflower mac and cheese - the cheese, of course. You can make this as cheesy as you want. I added a cup of cheddar and mozzarella.
The final step - stirring in macaroni and cauliflower. And sprinkle with lots of parsley. Yum! You are going to love this simple low carb version of your favorite classic mac and cheese.
More Cauliflower Recipes:
- Cauliflower Steak with Avocado Hollandaise
- Crispy Cauliflower Wings
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Tandoori Cauliflower | Tandoori Gobi
- Chilli Gobi | Chilli Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Popcorn
- Restaurant Style Gobi (Cauliflower) 65
- Aloo Gobi | Indian Potatoes and Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Crust Pizza
- Lentils Kale Cauliflower Curry
- Cauliflower and Potato Curry
Cauliflower Mac And Cheese | Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup macaroni
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- 1 garlic clove peeled and minced
- 3 tablespoons all purpose plain flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- A pinch of cayenne pepper
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated mozzarella
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Boil water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Season with salt. Add macaroni. Cook for 6 minutes. Add cauliflower florets. Cook 4 minutes. Drain. Set aside. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
- Meanwhile, place a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
- Melt butter.
- Add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes or until soft and translucent.
- Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Add flour. Cook, stirring continuously, for 2-3 minutes.
- Gradually add milk, stirring continuously, ensuring milk is fully incorporated into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add paprika, dijon mustard and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add grated cheddar and mozzarella. Stir to combine.
- Increase heat to medium-high.
- Add cooked pasta and cauliflower florets. Toss to combine.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water.
- Heat through.
- Garnish with chopped parsley.
Video
Notes
- This is a stovetop recipe, however, you can top this with breadcrumbs and cheese, and bake at 180 C / 350 F for 15-20 minutes.
- You can also substitute macaroni with more cauliflower
- This recipe is a low carb version of classic mac and cheese
- To level up the flavor, you can fry chopped bacon alongside onions
- Serve this dish on its own, or with grilled chicken or meat
Nutrition
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