The BEST Cheesy Cauliflower Bake Recipe - Simply Stacie (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cauliflower bake watery? ›

Most recipes recommend blanching the cauliflower in boiling water for a few minutes for this initial stage, but it's important to pay close attention to this step. The watery problem happens when the cauliflower is either overcooked or not drained well enough after a quick blanching.

Cauliflower is blanched for a few minutes, before being baked in the oven smothered in cheese sauce. So gooood. What is this? It pairs really well with salty meats, especially roast ham, gammon steaks and bacon.

Cauliflower Cheese is a British dish that is served as a side or even as a main (vegetarian!)

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.

Once the riced cauliflower has been cooked (or thawed), transfer it to a clean, thin dishtowel. Wrap up the steamed rice in the dishtowel, twist it up, then SQUEEZE all the excess moisture out! (Be careful if your cauliflower is still hot-- let it cool before handling.)

Preventing a lumpy cheese sauce: When adding the milk to the roux (paste) it is essential to stir continuously. Stopping stirring will cause lumps to form and no amount of stirring after this will get rid of them.

If you're using a microwave, be aware they do not heat evenly throughout, so take your food out halfway through cooking time and give it a stir. Don't reheat leftovers more than once.

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.

Cooking instructions

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender. Drain and refresh in iced water, drain again and transfer to a large ovenproof dish.

There's been plenty of debate over whether cauliflower is a traditional festive food, as the Peep Show 2010 Christmas special famously demonstrated. However, the UK has clearly made up its mind and cauliflower cheese is here to stay.

Why is my veggie bake watery? ›

Prep Vegetables Ahead Of Time

What we mean is that vegetables are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to watery casseroles. That's because vegetables naturally contain a lot of water in their raw form. When cooked, water leaches out, transforming your rich, gooey casserole into a liquidy slop.

Riced cauliflower can benefit from a quick sauté, but be mindful of the clock. Leave riced cauliflower on the heat too long and it will become soft and soggy.

If you want to prevent your cauliflower rice from being soggy, you might want to try pan-frying your rice or roasting it in the oven. Adding a bit of oil and cooking it on a high heat will remove some of the moisture and help it crisp up!

Strain, drain, and dry your cauliflower well

Overcooking vegetables causes their structure to break down, releasing nutrients into the water. They will also release more moisture when overcooked, making everything soggy.