This baked cauliflower cheese is rich, packed with cheese flavour and has a nice golden crunchy topping. Its the perfect side to have with your Christmas dinner or Sunday roast.
Bring a medium pot of generously salted water to the boil and add the cauliflower. Place a lid on the pot and boil for 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain the cauliflower and set to the side whilst you make the cheese sauce.
Preheat the oven to 180c.
Making the Cheese Sauce
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add flour and mix with a wooden spoon. Cook for 2-3 minutes mixing every 30 seconds to minute.
Add one third of the milk and whisk vigorously. Once the mixture starts to thicken add another big splash of milk and continue mixing until the sauce starts to thicken again. Repeat this until you have used all the milk.
Turn the heat down to very low and slowly mix in handfuls of cheese until you have incorporated all the cheese. Turn off the heat and stir in a tea spoon of mustard and some freshly grated nutmeg. Taste and season, adding a pinch of salt if necessary.
Mixing and Baking the Cauliflower
Pour the cauliflower into the cheese sauce and mix. Transfer the cauliflower cheese to a baking tray.
Sprinkle with panko crumbs and bake for 20-25 minutes at 180c until the top is golden brown.