Happy Meatless Monday! So, today I am not actually giving you a vegetarian dinner recipe. Instead, I’m giving you a delicious and savory vegetarian side dish that comes together in 25 minutes!
Okay, so you may be asking why I would clarifying a vegetable side dish as vegetarian?? How many of you are from the Midwest? You know what I’m talking about! I spent a good chunk of my life in the Midwest, but I totally forgot how much they like to add bacon or other animal products to vegetables until I traveled back there on business.
I was consulting at a power plant in Southern Illinois, flying out there almost weekly for probably a good month. Anytime we went anywhere to eat, every single vegetable had bacon or some other animal product in it. It was gross, to be frank. I just wanted fresh vegetables, no added meat, no added fat, just vegetables! Alas, no such luck. So, you may think it’s redundant to say vegetarian for a vegetable dish, but… it’s not!
I absolutely love using cauliflower as a potato alternative. Instead of mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, potato au gratin, etc., etc., etc., I like to swap it out for the lower carb alternative of cauliflower. Most of the carbs in this recipe come from the Guinness, so feel free to scrap that and replace with additional almond milk if you’re on a keto diet. Almond milk is a great low carb alternative to cow’s milk, and you honestly can’t even tell the difference! It’s lower in calories too! Win win!
Now, my bff hates cauliflower for some reason. I don’t understand it. Maybe you understand? Please, someone explain it to me?? But, she does love broccoli. So, if you’re in the anti-cauliflower group but are intrigued by this recipe, totally swap it out for broccoli. OR! If you LOVE cauliflower but also love broccoli, feel free to interchange them or include both! Yum!
This is probably one of the easiest side dishes you can make! While the cauliflower roasts at 500°F, the cheese sauce can be made on the stovetop. Personally, I love the flavor Guinness gives to cheese sauces. That plus a little bit of Dijon mustard… mmmm, perfectly savory cheese sauce. I also like to add a hint of cayenne pepper… not to make it spicy but to give the slightest bite in the back of your throat.
And that’s it! When the cauliflower (or broccoli!) is done roasting, add it to the cheese sauce, stir, and voila, your side dish is ready to serve!
Enjoy!
Savory Roasted Cauliflower and Cheese with Fresh Herbs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
1 large head of cauliflower, cut into large florets
½ sweet onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 TBs fresh thyme, minced
2 TBs fresh sage, minced
2 TBs butter
3 TBs flour
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup Guinness
2 TBs Dijon mustard
2 tsps paprika
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
4 oz cheddar, grated
4 oz gruyere, grated
salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 500°F. Spread the cauliflower evenly across a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium heat in a cast iron pan or large saucepan. Once melted, add the onions and cook, stirring often, until just starting to soften ~ about 6 to 8 minutes minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and sage and cook until fragrant ~ about 30 seconds.
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir until fully saturated. Slowly pour the Guinness into the pan, stirring constantly, until fully incorporated. Add the milk, Dijon mustard, paprika, and cayenne and stir until well mixed. Bring to a light boil and then reduce the heat to medium low until slightly thickened. Add the cheddar and gruyere and stir until fully melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Once the cauliflower has finished cooking, transfer immediately to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Serve as a side with your desired entree. This pairs create with pork chops, grilled chicken, steak, or, really, anything!
Enjoy!
Keywords: Cauliflower au gratin, cheesy cauliflower, cauliflower and cheese, roasted cauliflower, Guinness cheese sauce, cauliflower side dishes
