Baked Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese with Peas
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: American
 
Ingredients
  • For the cheese sauce
  • 2 Tbs. vegan butter
  • 2 Tbs. chickpea flour
  • 2 cups non-dairy milk
  • 4 oz. Teese Vegan Cheddar Cheese
  • 2-3 tsp. Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp. hot sauce
  • ½ tsp. paprika
  • A pinch of nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • For the dish
  • 2 large heads cauliflower
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 ½ cups green peas
  • Gluten-free bread crumbs
  • Cooking oil spray
Instructions
  1. Heat a saucepan and melt the vegan butter. Add the flour and whisk until the flour is thoroughly incorporated. Allow the flour to cook for a minute. Add the milk to the roux, slowly, whisking continuously. Let cook for 2 minutes as it starts to thicken. Add the Teese Vegan Cheddar Cheese and whisk as it melts. Whisk in the mustard and hot sauce. Add the paprika, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Continue to let the sauce cook until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce is thicker, about 3 minutes. Keep the pot covered and set aside.
  2. Cut the cauliflowers into florets and cut the cores into bite-size pieces. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a few tablespoons of salt and carefully add the cauliflower. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes until just about to get tender. It will cook more later so you want it a bit undercooked. Reserve a cup of cooking water. Drain and rinse the cauliflower with cold water and return it to the pot.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and toss to coat. You want the sauce to be pourable because it will dry up a bit as it bakes. If the sauce is too thick, mix in a few spoons of the reserved cooking water. Stir in the peas.
  4. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and transfer the cauliflower and cheese to the baking dish. Sprinkle some bread crumbs on top and spray the top with cooking oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese sauce is bubbling and the top is browned. If you want it browner, put it under the broiler for just 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the dish to cool for at least 15 minutes (I know, it’s hard) so it can set before serving.
Recipe by The "V" Word at http://thevword.net/2015/05/baked-cauliflower-mac-and-cheese-with-peas-and-review-of-teese-vegan-cheddar-cheese.html