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Original poster

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:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 28/10/2025 08:35

We usually have it with a jacket potato. We have a lot of cauliflower with plenty of sauce, but I wouldn’t consider it filling enough for a main meal otherwise.

I hardly ever make it as a side.

StrongLikeMamma · 28/10/2025 08:35

Ponoka7 · 28/10/2025 08:31

I suppose it's the british version of Mac and Cheese (which I detest). If you see a consultant and are post menopause, they are now doing bone health scoring, I think because of Statins we are less concerned about heart health scoring. All of those who did the fad diets of the 80's are hitting 60+ and it shows in our bones. Anyway, cheese is now being encouraged. The consultant wasn't happy with me getting my calcium from lentil/chickpea/bean sources, he recomended cheese.

Love cheese so that’s a win 👏

Ponoka7 · 28/10/2025 08:31

I suppose it's the british version of Mac and Cheese (which I detest). If you see a consultant and are post menopause, they are now doing bone health scoring, I think because of Statins we are less concerned about heart health scoring. All of those who did the fad diets of the 80's are hitting 60+ and it shows in our bones. Anyway, cheese is now being encouraged. The consultant wasn't happy with me getting my calcium from lentil/chickpea/bean sources, he recomended cheese.

StrongLikeMamma · 28/10/2025 08:30

soupyspoon · 28/10/2025 07:39

Because the amount of ignorance on this thread, as with many others is off the scale

I eat higher protein and lower carb. I know what the optimum protein amounts are for your body to properly absorb the amount per meal or per eating session.

People are saying theres no protein or little protein in it and they dont know what they're talking about. The average main meal portion is around 20-30g of protein and thats without bread if one were to eat bread, we dont really eat bread. The body cannot take advantage of more protein than that per meal effectively.

Another poster said they wouldnt eat it because its 'carby'. Cauliflower cheese!!!

Lol.

Show quote history

The bread is carby.

StrongLikeMamma · 28/10/2025 08:29

I’d want some protein with it. I wouldn’t eat it with bread.
I usually have it with veggie sausage and peas for example. Or with fish.
But it’s yummy so would eat on its own if I didn’t have anything else!

Jan039 · 28/10/2025 08:27

For me cauliflower cheese is not enough of a thing to be a main meal but too much hassle to make to just be a side dish.

Bjorkdidit · 28/10/2025 08:24

soupyspoon · 28/10/2025 07:39

Because the amount of ignorance on this thread, as with many others is off the scale

I eat higher protein and lower carb. I know what the optimum protein amounts are for your body to properly absorb the amount per meal or per eating session.

People are saying theres no protein or little protein in it and they dont know what they're talking about. The average main meal portion is around 20-30g of protein and thats without bread if one were to eat bread, we dont really eat bread. The body cannot take advantage of more protein than that per meal effectively.

Another poster said they wouldnt eat it because its 'carby'. Cauliflower cheese!!!

Lol.

Show quote history

This. Extreme poverty and eating disorders aside, there's probably not a single person that's anywhere near deficient in protein. MN is ridiculous with it's cry of 'but where's the protein'. A meal doesn't need a great lump of meat to have sufficient protein FFS.

Westfacing · 28/10/2025 08:21

LaBarucci · 28/10/2025 01:04

No way is cauliflower cheese a side dish - well, I suppose it could be in small amounts. Here's one of mine, tasty and filling - with breadcrumbs and bacon on top for flavour.

Oh, that looks delicious!

But some of the cauliflower has no sauce on it 😱

StarlightLady · 28/10/2025 08:17

Let me put a spanner in the oven 😀! It makes a good starter.

Westfacing · 28/10/2025 08:04

I never have it with a roast - don't like to mix cheesiness with gravy. I like it as a side with ham.

On its own or with a sprinkling of crispy bacon bits it would be a light lunch for me.

I wouldn't serve to family or guests as a main meal - it's akin to serving a dish of cheesy mash!

I see from the voting that the nation is split down the middle on this one 😄

Ginmonkeyagain · 28/10/2025 07:53

I grew up in Kent and we would often have cauliflower cheese as a main dish. In fact I was a bit shocked when I first encountered it as a side dish - felt a bit extra.

ranoutofquinoaandprosecco · 28/10/2025 07:52

We have it as a side, but I make extra and turn the leftovers into soup, so you could say I do both!

PaddlingSwan · 28/10/2025 07:43

Well firstly, I have never had cauliflower cheese with a roast, that is barbaric. Absolutely nothing wrong with having it as a main course, though. I quite often do this if I want something tasty and delicious.

soupyspoon · 28/10/2025 07:39

aperollingintotheweekend · 28/10/2025 07:19

Why are you so precious about this? I eat quite a high protein diet because I lift weights, there are SO many benefits of both of these things. Just because it’s not for you doesn’t mean it’s not healthy and a sensible decision for others.

Show quote history

Because the amount of ignorance on this thread, as with many others is off the scale

I eat higher protein and lower carb. I know what the optimum protein amounts are for your body to properly absorb the amount per meal or per eating session.

People are saying theres no protein or little protein in it and they dont know what they're talking about. The average main meal portion is around 20-30g of protein and thats without bread if one were to eat bread, we dont really eat bread. The body cannot take advantage of more protein than that per meal effectively.

Another poster said they wouldnt eat it because its 'carby'. Cauliflower cheese!!!

Lol.

Justputsomeyoghurtonit · 28/10/2025 07:35

Salvadoridory · 28/10/2025 07:17

You're fun

Show quote history

I just don't get the cheese thing! I'd rather use my calories on ready salted crisps.

😁

WhamBamThankU · 28/10/2025 07:30

Grew up vegetarian and we had it regularly!

Cakeandusername · 28/10/2025 07:27

I’m your age and never had it for a main. My mum would serve it with gammon and perhaps green beans.

Nannyfannybanny · 28/10/2025 07:27

Soupyspoon,100% agree with you, food snobbery on Mumsnet and when I see people are going to be virtually on the point of starvation after beans on toast, I just think,no wonder 60% of the population is overweight.. do people not consider it's first cousin macaroni cheese to be a main meal! I do serve mine with extra veg, usually peas or green beans..

UninitendedShark · 28/10/2025 07:24

Main or side. I usually serve it with a jacket potato or with a layer macaroni on the bottom of the gratin dish because I have teenage sons with hollow legs.

aperollingintotheweekend · 28/10/2025 07:19

soupyspoon · 27/10/2025 22:26

Jesus, enough with the protein thing already.

How much protein do you think is the optimum amount in a meal?
How much protein do you think is in it?
The fat content doesnt minimise the protein in it
Not every meal has to have exactly the same amount of carbs, protein or fats as all the other meals in the day.

Show quote history

Why are you so precious about this? I eat quite a high protein diet because I lift weights, there are SO many benefits of both of these things. Just because it’s not for you doesn’t mean it’s not healthy and a sensible decision for others.

Basilisthebestherb · 28/10/2025 07:19

Shut the front door!! People are having cauliflower cheese as a MAIN!! I love this!!! Adding it to our meal list for next week!!!!

Salvadoridory · 28/10/2025 07:17

Justputsomeyoghurtonit · 28/10/2025 05:32

Do you have high cholesterol?!

I never came across cauli cheese until I was an adult. So consequently I've never cooked it, though it is sometimes offered as a side dish at the school cafeteria that I work in. I take a couple of florets but try to get bits without too much cheese!!

Show quote history

You're fun

MrsClatterbuck · 28/10/2025 07:00

It's a side dish and we always had it with bacon growing up. My dm made the most divine cauliflower cheese though I could have eaten it on its own very happily. Never seen it as main on menu before

HelenHywater · 28/10/2025 06:55

We used to have it as a main as kids. I wonder if it's a north/south divide thing. (Or a rich person/poor person divide maybe - we were poor).

I only have it as a side now, if at all. My children don't really like cauliflower.

Katemax82 · 28/10/2025 06:53

My husband's family had it as a main meal, I had it as a side dish. Now ....only at Christmas!