Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower in Cheesy Sauce

Name: Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower in Cheesy Sauce
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: For cauliflower:; • 1 large head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets, about 5 to 6 cups; • 1 head garlic, cloves peeled and thinly sliced, about ½ cup; • 2 tablespoons olive oil; • 1 teaspoon ground paprika; • 1 teaspoon kosher salt; • ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper; For cheese sauce:; • 2 tablespoons butter; • 2 tablespoons flour; • 2 cups milk; • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; • 4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated, about 1 cup; • 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, finely grated, about ½ cup

The Garden & Saucier

Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower in Cheesy Sauce

Print Recipe

The Strategy:

Cauliflower is versatile—so versatile that it is used as a look-alike rice and as a base for pizza crust. Here are a couple of more things you can do with cauliflower.

Serves: 4 to 6 | Total Time: 20 minutes, plus about 30 minutes to roast, till it’s ready

Ingredients

For Cauliflower

For cauliflower:
• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets, about 5 to 6 cups
• 1 head garlic, cloves peeled and thinly sliced, about ½ cup
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

For Cheese Sauce

For cheese sauce:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated, about 1 cup
• 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, finely grated, about ½ cup

Overhead prep shot of fresh cauliflower florets, sliced garlic, olive oil, paprika, butter, flour, milk, nutmeg, grated cheddar, and grated Parmesan

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°.
Add the florets to a baking dish. Toss in the garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with paprika. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook until the cauliflower is tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Heat the butter in a deep pot over mediumhigh heat.
Whisk in the flour. Cook until golden and bubbling, about 2 to 4 minutes.
Pour in the milk. Cook, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened, about 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted.
Remove the baking dish from the oven.
Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Place the baking dish back into the oven and bake until the sauce begins to brown and bubble, about 5 minutes more.

Extreme close-up action shot pouring thick, glossy melted cheddar cheese sauce over roasted cauliflower and garlic

Thing to Note:

If you want to throw a couple of carrots or sliced onions into the baking dish with the cauliflower and garlic, feel free! They'll work great here.

The full recipe lives in the Vault

Ingredients, step-by-step method, and every chef-tested detail are reserved for members of the Estate Registry.

Join the Estate Registry

The Heart of the Table

There is a profound, grounding comfort found in serving a dish bubbling with warm, melted cheese to the people you love. It’s the kind of deeply satisfying food that makes shoulders drop, invites lingering conversations at the table, and reminds us that sometimes, the simple act of feeding our friends well is the most honest form of grace.

An elegant, formal dinner table setting featuring Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower in Cheesy Sauce alongside a gourmet steak

Neighborly Grace

THE PRESENTATION: Bring the bubbling, golden-crusted rustic ceramic baking dish directly from the oven to the table. The dramatic sizzle and the incredible aroma of toasted paprika and melted Parmesan are essential to the experience. Serve with a large, heavy serving spoon.
THE POUR: A robust, full-bodied red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Syrah. You need a wine with massive structure and tannins to stand up to the intense richness of the cheddar cheese sauce and the savory, roasted garlic notes.
THE VIBE: Decadent and indulgent. This is the ultimate, luxurious side dish designed to be served alongside an expensive, perfectly seared thick-cut steak at an elegant dinner party.

Chef’s Recommendations

The Plate It Belongs On: Meat Loaf with Roasted Veggies and a Balsamic Glaze
Roasted Garlic, Twice Over: Roasted Garlic & Tomato Basil Soup
Sharp Chutney, Rich Sauce: Grilled Veal Chops with Spicy Apple Chutney
The Sweet After the Cheese: Apple Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

The Estate Table

Build tonight’s menu around this dish.

✦ Set the Table

Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower in Cheesy Sauce

Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower in Cheesy Sauce

The full recipe lives in the Vault

The Heart of the Table

Neighborly Grace

✨ The Gilded Swaps