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Christmas

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Original poster

Cauliflower cheese - yay or nay?

117 replies

Bonheurdupasse · 16/12/2022 12:52

Does anyone do cauliflower cheese as a side at Christmas? Or if not, would you consider it (eating it)?

For those who do it - are there any ways to fancy it up?
One fancy version on BBC good food had the cauliflower being roasted initially, rather than parboiled. Sounds like it would be lovely - but then all in all it would be an hour in the oven for it - wouldn't that dry it out? Especially if I did the first step the night before?

OP posts:
pinneddownbytabbies · 16/12/2022 16:06

Much as I like cauliflower cheese and would eat it if someone else was cooking the Christmas dinner instead of me, it is just one more dish to cram into an already overcrowded oven, so nope.

SomethingOriginal2 · 16/12/2022 16:16

I usually do brocoli and cauliflower cheese but I cba this year

ChillysWaterBottle · 16/12/2022 16:17

YES

daisychain01 · 16/12/2022 16:28

DH always does me a cauli cheese, with fresh breadcrumb topping, this year it will be a trio of cauli, leek and celeriac cheese. It's the Law.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 16/12/2022 16:29

I’d like it, but don’t make it for Christmas dinner. To me a good cauliflower cheese absolutely needs to be made and served last minute, def. not frozen in advance! - and last minute is too much faff on the day - for me anyway.

I still simmer it, in smallish pieces, for 3 minutes only, drain well and leave to steam dry for a minute or two. Lots of mature Cheddar plus English mustard and S&P in the sauce.
Breadcrumbs and extra cheese on top, a quick blast under the grill, is lovely. I also do a macaroni/cauliflower cheese combo with that on top - a favourite in this house.

Too many C.cheeses are IMO pretty awful, because of over-cooked mushy cauliflower, and/or not drained properly, and/or not enough cheese in the sauce.

Ackity · 16/12/2022 16:31

Always yes!

you could add chorizo I suppose but I like it as is.

blueshoes · 16/12/2022 16:42

I love it. Do it.

Dreamwhisper · 16/12/2022 16:47

I absolutely have cauliflower cheese with Christmas dinner!

But, I love cauliflower cheese and could eat it multiple times a week on its own, and I don't have it with a regular roast.

Other special foods I don't have with a regular roast are creamy white cabbage, spiced red cabbage, pigs in blankets, meat stuffing and bread sauce.

All these things are what makes Christmas dinner amazing 🤗

Wetblanket78 · 16/12/2022 16:47

Mmm love it, one of my son's favourites so it's essential for us. We spent Christmas day in the hospital a few years ago. Turkey wasn't quite cooked when we had to call an ambulance for him. So when we eventually got home the turkey went in the bin. I managed to make something that resembled a Christmas dinner with carrots sprouts roast potatoes pig's in blankets, roast potatoes, parsnips cauliflower cheese. It was the cauliflower cheese he was excited about. After having nothing to eat since breakfast apart from some crisps I got from the vending machine.

Dreamwhisper · 16/12/2022 16:49

daisychain01 · 16/12/2022 16:28

DH always does me a cauli cheese, with fresh breadcrumb topping, this year it will be a trio of cauli, leek and celeriac cheese. It's the Law.

This sounds bloody amazing

Blanketpolicy · 16/12/2022 16:56

Love cauliflower cheese and have it as meal alone sometimes!

Over Christmas we keep the cauliflower cheese for the boxing day ham as it goes so well, personally don't think it goes with the rest of the turkey and trimmings, although wouldn't say no if it was served.

KangarooKenny · 16/12/2022 16:57

I do 😋

Oliol · 16/12/2022 17:30

I wouldn't, but my DC love it, so yes. Actually I do broccoli and cauliflower cheese, to cover what they all like.

stockpilingallthecheese · 16/12/2022 17:37

We have leeks and cheese sauce instead. But loads of cheese sauce as it is the best thing ever to dip roasties into!

Zanatdy · 16/12/2022 17:47

Yes we always have it with a roast as the kids love it

PearlclutchersInc · 16/12/2022 17:49

Partial to a bit of cauli cheese but not on Christmas day.....on Boxing day with all the leftovers though 😁

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 16/12/2022 17:50

100% cauli cheese! If DH gets his yorkies (which I'm sorry do not go on Christmas dinner) then I get my cauli cheese.

I also add wholegrain mustard as per some PP's.

maddy68 · 16/12/2022 17:52

Yes!

honeylou42 · 16/12/2022 17:53

Love it in our house ❤️

Blossomtoes · 16/12/2022 18:08

daisychain01 · 16/12/2022 16:28

DH always does me a cauli cheese, with fresh breadcrumb topping, this year it will be a trio of cauli, leek and celeriac cheese. It's the Law.

That sounds wonderful. I’m copying it but not on Christmas Day, I don’t like work enough for that.

HollyDollyChristmas · 16/12/2022 18:20

100% yes. Make it Christmas Eve then 30 minutes in the oven Christmas Day.

BlancmanegeBunny · 16/12/2022 18:23

I love cauliflower cheese..... but it has no place on the same plate as gravy!

erikbloodaxe · 16/12/2022 18:35

Brussels Sprouts x Cauliflower Cheese = mustard gas. Pick one or the other.

ChaToilLeam · 16/12/2022 18:43

It is a terrible crime against cheese and should never besmirch a plate. Make it with blue cheese and mustard and you’ve got all the things I really dislike in one dish. 🤢

All the more for the rest of you 😉

ReluctantLondoners · 16/12/2022 18:44

Yay! I love it and so does my sister. So we will definitely be having it at Christmas dinner

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