Skinny Cheesy Coconut Cauliflower

I did it!  I set out to make a delicious, guilt-free cheese sauce with a kick and I did it!  This is such a fun dish – roasted cauliflower, 12 grain bread, and walnuts topped with a spicy cheese sauce that you can enjoy without counting the calories.  I’m so proud of this sauce because it tastes better than any other cheese sauce I’ve had.  I don’t know about you but I just love cheese and I find that the sauces are often too rich and really spoil the meal for me.  Not this one – I got rid of the cream and butter without ditching the taste.

“How did you perform this miracle?” you ask.  Well, I’m not going to be able to tell you because I plan on making millions when I market it so you’ll just have to guess for now.  Kidding! Sorta!  I’ll share it with you, my readers, but you have to promise to keep it to yourselves before I launch my sales campaign in the new year.  If you can agree to this, you can read on.  If not…well, go to the Cheez Whiz website  because that’s what you’ll be doomed to eat forever, lol.

Do you make cauliflower or broccoli with cheese sauce as a side dish at Christmas? The inspiration for this recipe came from Good Food on the BBC website.  It appealed to me because I hadn’t seen it done quite like this before.   This is a quick and easy dish that you can slide into the oven as you take the turkey/ham/prime rib out to rest.  It takes about 40 minutes so it will be piping hot and ready when you sit down to eat.

You can add whatever fresh herbs you like to suit your tastes.  I’m a big fan of rosemary but parsley, thyme, tarragon, sage or chives would be a great addition, too.

This dish simply requires you to boil the florets for 5 minutes before letting them rest, patting them dry and putting them into your roasting pan.  Add your dried out bread pieces, sprinkle some walnuts and slip into the oven.  While it cooks for 15 minutes you can make the easy-peasy cheese sauce, add it to your cauliflower and cook for another twenty.  I saved a little sauce and added it at the end just cos I love cheese that much!

I used a mature white cheddar and I’d recommend that you don’t skimp on the cheese and buy quality.  It doesn’t look white because there is paprika and cayenne in there.  You can use any colour cheddar you like and, in fact, there are a few other cheeses you could use if you’re not a fan of cheddar.  Next time I will try a blend of gruyere and parmesan or perhaps a crumbly Lancashire, which has a nutty taste.  If you want to make this a vegan dish, you can try a soy cheese but I haven’t experimented with it for this recipe so I can’t guarantee the results.  If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out!

Pick a bread with some substance – a whole grain nutty type or something with a little oomph!  You want your dish to have some personality and after all, cauliflower needs some help when it comes to standing out from the crowd!

You must promise me not to put the dreaded Velveeta on here – that would be a crime!  It’s time everyone tossed those preservative-filled fake cheeses out of their fridges for good.  We can have a healthy cheese sauce with great taste and without the guilt.

I hope everyone is having fun during this holiday season.  Next I have quick and simple shrimp appetizer that you can make for your holiday parties.  Cheers!