Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese

Make this tasty cauliflower mac and cheese your go to weeknight dinner recipe. Cheesy baked pasta recipes make popular family dinners, especially like this easy baked mac and cheese.

Recipe By:

Perfect Italiano

perfectitaliano.com.au [1]

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

35 minutes

Serves:

Perfect winter warming weeknight fare! Cheesy baked pasta recipes make popular family dinners, especially like this easy baked mac and cheese with extra veggies smuggled in using cauliflower. Perfect Italiano 4 Cheese Melt Cheese takes the flavour to a whole new level!

Ingredients

200 g dried macaroni pasta
½ medium (400 - 500 g) cauliflower, cut into small florets
⅓ cup olive oil
1½ tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp. plain flour
2½ cups (625 ml) full-fat milk
1⅔ cups (150 g) Perfect Italiano™ Perfect Melt
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups fresh sourdough breadcrumbs (made from 5 x 1 cm slices, crusts removed)
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Small thyme sprigs or leaves, to serve (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C / 180°C fan forced. Cook pasta in large saucepan of boiling water, until just tender, adding cauliflower to pan for the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook half the thyme and half the garlic, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until mixture bubbles.
Gradually stir in the milk, whisking constantly until smooth. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring constantly, for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Stir in pasta mixture and 1 cup (90 g) of the cheese until smooth and combined. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a baking dish.
Combine breadcrumbs, rosemary, remaining thyme, cheese and oil in a bowl. Scatter over pasta mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until top is golden and crisp. Serve sprinkled with extra thyme leaves if desired.