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The Cauliflower Cheese Conundrum

390 replies

Speckly · 27/10/2025 22:09

Earlier a friend I was out with asked me what we were having for dinner tonight. When I replied “Cauliflower cheese and crusty bread”, she said “With what?” When I told her that was our dinner she looked horrified and told me cauliflower cheese is a side dish. As kids we often had cauliflower cheese for our dinner (I’m early 50s) but I’m interested to know, is that weird? Husband and I usually have this as a main about once a month (not vegetarian btw). When I asked DH his views on the subject tonight, he said he enjoys it but that his family never really had it when he was young so he couldn’t comment. If it’s relevant at all, we live in Kent. So is it ok to eat cauliflower cheese as a main or should it only ever be served as a side dish?

YABU - Cauliflower cheese is a side dish. You need to jazz it up with some other stuff!

YANBU - Cauliflower cheese is a decent main course - ignore the haters.

OP posts:
user2848502016 · 27/10/2025 22:48

It’s usually a side dish, although sometimes I make it with pasta mixed in as a cauliflower cheese pasta bake as a main meal so I guess that’s the same as serving cauliflower cheese and bread as a main meal!

BoredZelda · 27/10/2025 22:45

Mondaytuesdayhappydays · 27/10/2025 22:42

Food of the Gods but definitely a side dish-
However, a heavy lifting one - eg a bit piece of Gammon in the Slow cooker with a huge portion of homemade Cauliflower cheese on the side where the meat is almost the garnish !

On a roast with gravy (not touching or poured over of course) and cranberry sauce with white white pepper is almost tear inducingly delicious.

That said, 2 x M&S ready prepared portions -cooked in the oven not microwave on their own for me when DH away and no kids lurking is bliss!

I usually hate ready made sides, but M&S’ version is fantastic.

BoredZelda · 27/10/2025 22:44

We would have it as a side with a roast dinner, but we also had it as a main meal, towards the end of the month, when money was tight.

Mondaytuesdayhappydays · 27/10/2025 22:42

Food of the Gods but definitely a side dish-
However, a heavy lifting one - eg a bit piece of Gammon in the Slow cooker with a huge portion of homemade Cauliflower cheese on the side where the meat is almost the garnish !

On a roast with gravy (not touching or poured over of course) and cranberry sauce with white white pepper is almost tear inducingly delicious.

That said, 2 x M&S ready prepared portions -cooked in the oven not microwave on their own for me when DH away and no kids lurking is bliss!

Pallisers · 27/10/2025 22:41

side dish here but would be totally open to having it as a main. But I think I would need to have something green with it ... not sure what would work.

Contemporaneouslyagog · 27/10/2025 22:40

It's a main with chips

soupyspoon · 27/10/2025 22:40

Bit shocked at the food ignorance on here, but then I see it on lots of threads so its a shame.

CloudSky · 27/10/2025 22:39

It’s just a veg side with cheese on to add seasoning. Same as you wouldn’t have a bowl of broccoli as your main.

Coffeeishot · 27/10/2025 22:39

I used to eat it with leeks bacon bits and bake it with bead crumbs and have it for dinner, dh would have it as a side dish, although id havr it as a veg too, i can't eat it any more it gives me stomach ache, it makes me sad I love it.

venusandmars · 27/10/2025 22:38

It's fine as a main.

Same with maccaroni. That used to be a full meal, now it's a side. ???

Slightyamusedandsilly · 27/10/2025 22:38

Definitely wouldn't want it with meat. It already has loads of protein (and fat). I prefer it as a main meal, probably with some in-their-skins boiled potatoes.

And the thought of it with a roast 🤮🤮🤮🤮. Too many clashing flavours.

hby9628 · 27/10/2025 22:37

I love cauliflower cheese but I’ve never heard of it being used as a main. I think it’s a bloody brilliant idea though. Will defo try it.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 27/10/2025 22:36

ItsTheSeasonOfTheStick · 27/10/2025 22:35

Not much protein, nor is it very healthy. High calorie for low reward, albeit delicious.

Loads of fibre though! And vitamins! And you can give the leaves to your guinea pigs!

WiddlinDiddlin · 27/10/2025 22:36

It really does depend on the calibre of your cauliflower cheese.

If its literally some watery cauli in a white sauce with a hint of cheese - thats a side and a shite one at that.

If its packed with cauli, perhaps some spud and onion too, its got tons of cheese, maybe some bacon bits in there, some wholegrain mustard, or paprika flavouring the sauce..

Then yes, cauli cheese that is a king of side dishes and a smashing main with some toast or garlic bread etc n the side.

BiddyPopthe2nd · 27/10/2025 22:36

Growing up, it was a side dish.

but now, especially if it uses good cheese and a dollop of mustard, the cauliflower itself is not overcooked and mushy, and especially with proper crusty bread (or potentially, a top cover of garlicky crispy breadcrumbs that are finished inthe oven), I love it as a meal on its own.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 27/10/2025 22:35

We always had it as a main when I was a kid. I hated it and always left it/whinged about it. Now I absolutely love it and am very sad thinking about how many cauliflower cheeses I insulted because I knew no better.

ItsTheSeasonOfTheStick · 27/10/2025 22:35

Not much protein, nor is it very healthy. High calorie for low reward, albeit delicious.

JillyJoy · 27/10/2025 22:34

Before reading this thread I would have assumed it to be a mid-week thrift meal if it was without meat.

AgentPidge · 27/10/2025 22:34

I would normally have it as a side, but leftovers definitely as a main, with some sort of green veg - either a salad or broccoli cooked in with the cauliflower. A bit of nutritional yeast on top too. Yum!

FridayNightFever · 27/10/2025 22:33

I'm also from Kent and grew up having Cauli cheese as a main meal. I practically lived on the stuff. I was hugely shocked when I found out people had it with a roast - it just didn't remotely seem to fit. I'm now a convert to this (and LOVE it when the cheese sauce mixes with the gravy!) and, oddly, never have it by itself anymore!

DrCoconut · 27/10/2025 22:33

Cauliflower cheese on toast - food of the Gods.

DeirdreDragon · 27/10/2025 22:33

Cauli cheese and chips, dinner of champions

MrsMitford3 · 27/10/2025 22:32

Had it tonight as a side with slow cooked pork and mash.

I just don't feel like is a main for grown ups 😂although I do love it

Timeforatincture · 27/10/2025 22:31

Well as the Oracle Ronnie Barker said as Fletcher in Porridge " You can't escape on a Thursday! Good tea innit? Cauliflower cheese". So there you are. Good tea innit.

LazyLaurel · 27/10/2025 22:31

It was a main growing up and still a main now. We have it with loads of seeds/breadcrumbs toasted on top. Was so confused when I learnt that people had it as a side!