Cauliflower cheese spaghetti | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

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Cauliflower cheese spaghetti

With garlicky breadcrumbs

  • Vegetarianv

With garlicky breadcrumbs

  • Vegetarianv

“Who doesn’t love a quick pasta? This lovely little number is all about keeping costs down and ramping up flavour. I’ve taken my favourite side dish (the iconic cauliflower cheese) and turned it into something a little bit grown-up. Frozen cauliflower works so well here to create a creamy, elegant sauce in no time at all – trust me. ”

Serves 4

Cooks In30 minutes

DifficultyNot too tricky

Cauliflower

Nutrition per serving
  • Calories 550 28%

  • Fat 18.4g 26%

  • Saturates 7.7g 39%

  • Sugars 11.6g 13%

  • Salt 0.7g 12%

  • Protein 24.7g 49%

  • Carbs 75.6g 29%

  • Fibre 5.2g -

Of an adult's reference intake

Cauliflower cheese spaghetti | Jamie Oliver recipes (3)

Recipe From

£1 Wonders

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Method

Ingredients

  • 400 g frozen cauliflower florets
  • 1 leek
  • olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 slice of stale crusty white bread (50g)
  • 20 g mixed nuts
  • 1 pinch of dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon plain flour
  • 400 ml semi-skimmed milk
  • 100 g mature Cheddar cheese
  • 300 g dried spaghetti

Tap For Method

£1 or less per portion recipes were calculated using costs from an average of four UK supermarkets in September 2022. FIND OUT MORE

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Cauliflower cheese spaghetti | Jamie Oliver recipes (4)

Recipe From

£1 Wonders

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Ingredients

Method

  1. Place the frozen cauliflower into a microwave-proof bowl. Trim off the white part of the leek (putting the green top aside for later), add to the bowl and cook in the microwave on high (800W) for 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is defrosted and the leek has softened.
  2. Meanwhile, place a large non-stick frying pan on a medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Peel, finely slice and stir in 1 clove of garlic and cook for 2 minutes, or until golden, then very finely slice and add the green leek top. Roughly chop the bread to create rustic breadcrumbs, add to the pan and fry for 5 minutes, or until starting to crisp up, stirring occasionally. Finely chop and add the nuts, stirring until toasted, then transfer everything to a plate.
  3. Return the pan to the heat with 1 teaspoon of oil. Peel, finely slice and add the remaining garlic and fry for 2 minutes, or until golden. Slice and add the softened white part of the leek, then stir through the dried thyme and softened cauliflower.
  4. Stir the flour into the pan, then gradually add the milk, a ladleful at a time, stirring continuously until you have a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat, then either blitz it with a hand blender until silky smooth, or use a potato masher to mash everything together to create a rustic sauce. Grate in most of the cheese, stirring gently to combine.
  5. Cook the pasta in a pan of salted boiling water according to the packet instructions, then drag it straight into the sauce, taking a little cooking water with it. Toss together, adding a splash of starchy cooking water to loosen, if needed.
  6. Divide between plates, sprinkling over the crispy breadcrumbs and grating over the reserved cheese, to serve.

Tips

HELPFUL HINT
The cooked cauliflower and leek tossed through the garlic actually makes a delicious side dish. And the cheat’s white sauce can be used in a lasagne to add extra veg, or poured over fish before cooking.

EASY SWAPS
The principle of the sauce can be embraced with your favourite veg. Go orange with carrot or squash, or green with broccoli – have fun with it!

FLAVOUR BOOST
Crunchy breadcrumbs like this are a joy, and would work on anything from salads to soups and stews, adding a nice bit of texture and extra flavour.

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Cauliflower cheese spaghetti | Jamie Oliver recipes (8)

Recipe From

£1 Wonders

By Jamie Oliver

© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

Cauliflower cheese spaghetti | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to stop cauliflower cheese from going watery? ›

Drain well

Make sure you drain the cauliflower really well after it's boiled up and before you add it to the dish, otherwise it will end up too watery.

Why does my cauliflower cheese sauce separate? ›

Cooking the cauliflower cheese at too high a temperature can sometimes cause the cheese to split, resulting in a slightly oily, grainy texture. What is this? A split sauce can also be avoided by removing the sauce from the heat before adding the cheese.

How long does cauliflower cheese keep in the fridge? ›

How long can you keep Cauliflower Cheese in the fridge? Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Cauliflower Cheese in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

How do you get the liquid out of cauliflower? ›

The trick with cauliflower is: Don't cook it till is too soft. just 4 or 5 minutes but taste to be sure. then drain into a colander, (sieve with big holes) and leave to drain for a few minutes, asking every minute. tap dry with a little kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.

What does soaking cauliflower in milk do? ›

When blanching or cooking cauliflower, keep it white by adding 1 cup of milk. The milk will also give the cauliflower a sweeter flavor.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

How long to simmer cauliflower? ›

Place the cauliflower into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until fork-tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two; chop into bite-size pieces.

What do you eat with cauliflower cheese? ›

  1. Crispy Green Beans. Green beans can add a satisfying crunch to any meal. ...
  2. Gluten-Free Bread. For those avoiding gluten, a slice of gluten-free bread can help soak up all that cheesy goodness from the cauliflower. ...
  3. Roasted Potatoes. ...
  4. Sautéed Mushrooms. ...
  5. Steamed Broccoli. ...
  6. Garlic Bread. ...
  7. Garden Salad. ...
  8. Mashed Potatoes.
Sep 4, 2023

Why can't you reheat cauliflower cheese? ›

Can you reheat cauliflower cheese? Yes you can, and it will taste fine… But just be aware that it will dry out a little and the cauliflower will be a little bit softer… not a deal breaker, but definitely not as good as fresh! Simply place any leftover cauliflower in a lidded container and refrigerate.

Why does cauliflower cheese upset my stomach? ›

Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust.

How do you get rid of lumps in cauliflower cheese? ›

(Don't worry if it's lumpy - you can mix the lumps out, or whisk the sauce). Once you've got a runny sauce, put the pan back on the low heat and stir as often as you can until it starts to boil. Let it boil v v gently and keep stirring, adding more milk until it's the consistency you want.

How do I stop my cauliflower cheese from going watery? ›

Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if its in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery. I would advise to not bake for longer than 20-25 minutes.

Can dogs eat cauliflower? ›

Yes, dogs can eat cauliflower in moderation, either raw or cooked. Cauliflower is a source of dietary fiber, vitamin K, and vitamin C for dogs. Some dogs may dislike the slightly bitter taste of cauliflower. Avoid cauliflower with seasonings or oils, as they can cause upset stomach.

Why can't I freeze cauliflower cheese? ›

It can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to cook. It is possible to freeze cauliflower cheese but unfortunately the sauce can sometimes turn thin and sligtly watery on defrosting, so we prefer not to freeze the dish if at all possible.

How do you keep cheese from getting watery? ›

Wipe the cheese dry, wrap in parchment or wax paper and place in an airtight container. Store in your vegetable drawer or if you have one, the shelf compartment specifically designed for cheese. This is a more temperature stable area and cheese seems to last better when placed here.

How do you keep cauliflower from getting soggy? ›

"Be sure to give each floret a bit of room so that the they have space for airflow. I'd also recommend baking them on a silicone baking mat," says Blay. The edges will get much crispier than they would if you baked them on parchment paper.

How do you make cheese sauce less liquidy? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

Why is my cheese spread watery? ›

No need to worry – the liquid on the outside of your cheese is just excess moisture, or liquid whey. Wipe off your cheese with a napkin or paper towel and enjoy! It's common for naturally-aged cheeses to develop a small amount of moisture inside their packaging.

References

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