Cauliflower cheese
Boiled cauliflower baked in a creamy cheese sauce
Cauliflower cheese is a British dish of boiled cauliflower topped with a cheese sauce, often baked until golden. It is served as a side with Sunday roasts or as a main for vegetarians. Cheddar is the usual cheese, but other types like Stilton or Swiss may be used. The dish is also known in Northern Italy.
- Cheddar is the most common cheese used
- First English recipe appeared in 1860
- Served as a side with Sunday roast in the UK
- Known as cavolfiore al gratin in Northern Italy
- Sometimes topped with breadcrumbs before baking
What is Cauliflower cheese?
Cauliflower cheese is made by covering boiled cauliflower with a rich cheese sauce, then baking it until the top is golden. Cheddar is the most common cheese, but sometimes Stilton, Swiss, or Parmesan are used. The sauce may be seasoned with nutmeg or English mustard for extra flavor. Some versions are topped with extra cheese or breadcrumbs before baking. The finished dish is creamy, with tender cauliflower and a crisp, savory topping.
Where does Cauliflower cheese come from?
Cauliflowers arrived in England in the 1600s, and the dish likely began soon after. The first known recipe for 'cauliflower and cheese' appeared in an 1860 vegetarian cookbook by John Smith, who suggested serving it with crispy bread pieces or substituting mushrooms or onions for cheese. Isabella Beeton included a similar recipe in her 1861 household guide. The dish became a British staple, and by the 20th century, it was a familiar part of Sunday meals.
How is Cauliflower cheese made?
To make cauliflower cheese, the cauliflower is first boiled until tender. A cheese sauce, usually based on cheddar, is prepared separately, often with milk, flour, and sometimes mustard or nutmeg. The cooked cauliflower is placed in a baking dish, covered with the sauce, and sprinkled with more cheese or breadcrumbs. It is then baked until the top is bubbling and browned.
How and when is Cauliflower cheese eaten?
In the UK, cauliflower cheese is commonly served as a side dish, especially with Sunday roast dinners. It can also be eaten as a main course, particularly by vegetarians. In Italy, it is enjoyed as cavolfiore al gratin. The dish is served hot, straight from the oven, and sometimes accompanied by bread. It is also found as a flavor in pre-prepared baby foods.
Kinds of Cauliflower cheese
While cheddar is the usual cheese, some recipes use Stilton, Swiss, or Parmesan. The sauce may be flavored with nutmeg or English mustard. In Italy, versions called cavolfiore al gratin or cavoifore alia besciamella use a similar method but may vary the cheese or sauce. Toppings of breadcrumbs or extra cheese are sometimes added for texture.
What Cauliflower cheese means
Cauliflower cheese is a symbol of traditional British home cooking. It was once fashionable to serve it with triangles of bread, a custom that faded by the late 20th century. The dish has been referenced as a marker of good English food and is now also found in ready meals and baby food. In Northern Italy, it is a familiar comfort dish.
Questions people ask about Cauliflower cheese
What is cauliflower cheese made of?
It is made from boiled cauliflower covered in a cheese sauce, usually based on cheddar, and often baked with extra cheese or breadcrumbs on top.
Where does cauliflower cheese come from?
Cauliflower cheese is from the United Kingdom, with its origins traced to the 17th century after cauliflowers were introduced to England.
Is cauliflower cheese vegetarian?
Yes, it is usually vegetarian, as it contains no meat or fish, but does include dairy products like cheese and milk.
How is cauliflower cheese served?
It is served hot, often as a side dish with Sunday roasts in the UK, or as a main course for vegetarians.
Are there different versions of cauliflower cheese?
Yes, some versions use different cheeses such as Stilton or Parmesan, and may include mustard, nutmeg, or breadcrumbs as toppings.
Good reading and sources
- Cauliflower cheese on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cauliflower cheese", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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