Cauliflower cheese steak & cannellini bean gratin with sage crumbs
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Cauliflower cheese steak & cannellini bean gratin with sage crumbs

By Anna Glover

Enjoy this cheesy cauliflower and cannellini bean gratin as a veggie centrepiece in a family feast, or try as a side dish to accompany a meat main course

  • Prep:30 mins
    Cook:50 mins
    plus cooling and resting
  • Serves 6
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 497
  • fat 28g
  • saturates 16g
  • carbs 34g
  • sugars 0g
  • fibre 8g
  • protein 24g
  • salt 1.5g

Ingredients

  • 1 large or 2 small cauliflower (about 1kg)
  • 50g butter
  • 50g plain flour
  • 500ml milk
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 200g mature cheddar, grated
  • 1 tsp English mustard powder
  • small bunch of sage, leaves picked and finely chopped
  • 2 x 400g cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 75g grated mozzarella
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 50g dried breadcrumbs
  • 1 lemon, zested

Method

  1. Remove the leaves from the cauliflower, discarding any that are very thick-stemmed or damaged, and reserving any smaller ones. Cut the cauliflower into four to six steaks or wedges through the stem to help keep the florets attached. Cut any florets that fall off into even-sized pieces.

  2. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, and cook the cauliflower steaks for 5-6 mins until just tender. Add the reserved leaves and loose florets for the final 2 mins of cooking time. Drain, then leave to steam-dry while you make the cheese sauce.

  3. To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in the same pan over a medium heat, then sprinkle in the flour. Whisk until you have a thick paste, then gradually add the milk, a splash at a time, whisking until it’s all incorporated. Add the bay leaves and cook for another 5-6 mins until thickened. Stir in the cheddar and mustard powder and season well.

  4. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip half the sage and all the beans into the sauce. Stir briefly. Fold in the loose cauliflower florets and leaves. Arrange the cauliflower steaks in a baking dish, then pour over the cheese sauce, making sure it coats the steaks well. Scatter with the mozzarella and bake for 20 mins.

  5. Meanwhile, stir the oil, garlic, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and the remaining sage together in a bowl.

  6. Remove the dish from the oven, and scatter over the breadcrumb mixture. Bake for 15 mins more until a cutlery knife goes through the cauliflower steaks easily, and the top is golden and bubbling. Leave to rest for 5 mins before serving.

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