Cheesy Cauliflower {with Speck ham}

Cheesy Cauliflower is filled with smokey speck ham and sharp cheddar cheese for a wonderfully complex flavor and oven roasted until browned and blubbing. Serve it as a side dish or as an entrée with a green vegetable or a salad. Leave out the ham for a completely vegetarian dish!

Course Appetizer/Entree, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 426kcal

Author Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

1 large head of fresh cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
1 cup Speck ham, diced (can substitute bacon, ham, pancetta, or prosciutto)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups milk, whole or low fat
2 cups fresh shredded sharp cheese
1 tablespoons Dijon mustard

salt and fresh ground white pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F/204C degrees. Butter a 2 ½ quart baking dish and set aside.
In a large heavy bottomed pot, steam cauliflower florets for 8 minutes, or until fork tender. Remove from pot and set aside.
Leave the pot on the stove and reduce the heat to medium. Sauté Speck until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Using the same pot over medium heat, melt butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until mixture thickens (about 4 minutes). Whisk in the cheese and mustard, whisking until the cheese is fully incorporated and the sauce is smooth. Taste the sauce and add salt and white pepper as needed.
Stir the cooked cauliflower and speck into the cheese sauce and place the mixture in a buttered baking dish. Bake at 400F/204C for 20-25 minutes or until bubbling hot and browned on top.
Serve hot as a side dish or as a main dish with a salad or green vegetable.

Notes

Leave out the ham for an easy vegetarian meal.

Nutrition