Scottish Whisky and Oatmeal Cauliflower Cheese
A rich and comforting baked cauliflower dish featuring a creamy cheese sauce infused with a hint of Scotch whisky and topped with a crunchy oatmeal crumble. This dish offers a sophisticated twist on a classic comfort food, perfect as a side or a light main.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 medium head Cauliflower(cut into florets)
- 75 g Butter(divided)
- 50 g All-purpose flour
- 500 ml Whole milk
- 150 g Sharp cheddar cheese(grated)
- 50 g Parmesan cheese(grated)
- 30 ml Scottish whisky
- 12 g Fine oatmeal(or ground rolled oats)
- 0.25 tsp Nutmeg(freshly grated)
- 1 tsp Salt(to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, to taste)
- 30 g Chopped nuts(optional, for topping)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F, Gas Mark 4).
💡 Tip: Ensure your oven is fully preheated before baking. - 2
Cut the cauliflower into florets and blanch in boiling salted water for 5 minutes. Drain well.
💡 Tip: Blanching helps to tenderize the cauliflower and ensures it cooks through in the oven. - 3
Melt 25g of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
💡 Tip: Cooking the flour for a minute removes the raw flour taste. - 4
Gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time, until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, stirring constantly.
💡 Tip: Whisking continuously prevents lumps from forming. - 5
Remove from heat. Stir in most of the grated cheddar and Parmesan cheese (reserving a little for topping), whisky, nutmeg, salt, and pepper until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
💡 Tip: Adding cheese off the heat helps prevent it from becoming oily. - 6
Place the blanched cauliflower florets in an ovenproof dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and toss gently to coat.
💡 Tip: Ensure all florets are well coated in the sauce. - 7
In a small bowl, melt the remaining 50g butter. Stir in the fine oatmeal and chopped nuts (if using).
💡 Tip: This creates a crunchy topping. - 8
Sprinkle the oatmeal mixture and the reserved cheese over the cauliflower.
💡 Tip: Distribute evenly for a golden crust. - 9
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and bubbling, and the cauliflower is tender.
💡 Tip: If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil. - 10
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
💡 Tip: Allowing it to rest helps the sauce set slightly.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use a good quality Scotch whisky for the best flavor.
- ✓If you don't have fine oatmeal, you can pulse rolled oats in a food processor until finely ground.
- ✓For a richer sauce, use double cream instead of some of the milk.
🔄 Variations
- Add cooked bacon lardons or smoked haddock to the cauliflower before adding the sauce.
- Incorporate other vegetables like broccoli or leeks.
- Experiment with different types of cheese, such as Gruyère or Red Leicester.