This cauliflower mac and cheese recipe tastes just as decadent as regular mac & cheese. It's made special with grill or roasted red peppers and caramelized onions. Plus, there is plenty of crunch to sprinkle on the top.
I'll give you the recipe in steps so you can get organized...
Enjoy!
Bring out the flavor (prepare the onion + red pepper)
1cupyellow onioncut in long strips for grilling -OR- diced for sautéing
1red peppercut in long strips for grilling -OR- diced for sautéing
2tspolive oil
Panko for major crunch
1tspolive oil
⅓cuppanko crumbs
3tbspparsleyfresh, chopped fine
Time to boil
2cupspastawheels / elbows / sauce-gripper shapes
2cupscauliflowerflorets
Make the filling
2tbspgarlicgrated
1tspolive oil
¾cupsour creamlow-fat
¾cupmilk2%
1 ½cupgruyere cheese
1cupsharp cheddar
¼cupparmesan (or assaggio) cheese
¼ cupcheesegrated scraps (to top before baking)
Instructions
Bring out the flavor (Prepare the onion + red pepper)...
Decide if you want to grill or sauté the onion and red pepper.
Option 1: Sauté the diced yellow onion and diced red pepper with 1 tsp olive oil on low heat in a small pan for 10-20 minutes (until transparent and starting to turn brown / caramelize). Save the pan (don't wash it yet) for cooking the panko crumbs later...
Option 2: Access to a grill? Spray some olive oil and grill your onion red pepper strips until light grill marks appear on both sides. When cooled, dice and mix with the cooling caramelized onions.
Panko for major crunch
Add 1 tsp olive oil and ⅓ cup panko crumbs to the empty pan. Stir on low for a few minutes until panko crumbs are golden brown. Cut off the heat, add 3 tbsp fresh parsley, set aside in a small serving bowl to offer for the big crunchy topping.
Time to boil
Turn on the heat. You'll use one pot of water to make the pasta and cauliflower at the same time. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high. You'll cook the pasta 3 minutes SHORT of al dente before adding in the cauliflower for the final 3 minutes. Drain the pasta + cauliflower, set aside. Use this large pot to make the filling.
Prepare & pre-heat
Choose your serving dishes + coat with non-stick spray:
8x - small ramekins | 4x - small crocks | 1x - 9" square dish
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Make the filling
Lightly sauté the garlic in olive oil in a large pot (perhaps the same one you boiled the pasta and cauliflower?). When garlic becomes transparent, mix in the pasta, cauliflower, low-fat sour cream and 2% milk. Stir together then gradually add in the gruyere, sharp cheddar and parmesan (or assaggio) cheese. Mix together.
Put cauliflower mac and cheese in ramekins or baking dishes. Sprinkle with grated cheese "scraps" and put in the oven for 10-15 minutes (until cheese on top is melted).
Finish + serve
Sprinkle panko on hot cauliflower mac and cheese and serve.
Send me a photo
On instagram, twitter, or facebook? Show me what you made at @sipbitego!