Gratins, with their crunchy toppings and oozy interiors, make wonderful fall comfort food. For this creamy dish, we use two French cheeses: ever-versatile Gruyere and an aged Mimolette, a lesser-known orange-hued cow’s milk cheese that shreds easily and melts well. For a simple meal, serve with a green salad and crusty bread; this recipe also makes a welcome accompaniment to roasted meats.
Cauliflower Gratin with Two Cheeses
4 Tbs. (2 oz./60 g.) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz./45 g.) all-purpose flour
3 cups (24 fl. oz./750 ml.) whole milk
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. sea salt, or to taste
2 oz. (60 g.) Gruyere cheese, shredded
2 oz. (60 g.) aged Mimolette cheese, shredded
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a shallow baking dish. Bring water to a boil in a steamer pan. Arrange the cauliflower florets on the steamer rack, place over the boiling water, cover and steam until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove the florets from the steamer and arrange snugly in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the 4 tablespoons butter. When it foams, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the flour to make a thick paste. Return to the heat and slowly add the milk, whisking constantly. Add the cayenne and 1/2 teaspoon salt, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes. Stir in half of the Gruyere and the Mimolette. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, if needed. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere.
Bake until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes. Serve hot. Serves 6-8.
Recipe from Williams-Sonoma Cheese, by Georgeanne Brennan.
7 comments
[…] but consistency-wise, it was very, very soupy and definitely not photogenic. I followed this recipe here which, based on my experience, calls for a little too much […]
[…] Cauliflower Gratin with Two Cheeses (williams-sonoma.com) […]
[…] Cauliflower Gratin with Two Cheeses (williams-sonoma.com) […]
[…] in your local food store. Alternatively, some folks also love aged cheese. Rather similar to wine, cheeses that are stored for extended periods eventually produce a sharp, powerful yet unique taste. Aged […]
[…] Cauliflower Gratin with Two Cheeses Gratins, with their crunchy toppings and oozy interiors, make wonderful fall comfort food. For a simple meal, serve with a green salad and crusty bread; this recipe also makes a welcome accompaniment to roasted meats. […]
The Mimolette is no longer available. My cheese mongrel told me a good substitute is a good aged Gouda.
Sorry, my cheese monger…