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This recipe was born one day when I was craving both macaroni and cheese and chowder, and couldn’t decide which to make. While its flavor is reminiscent of the surreal epiphany that is found in a humble mac and cheese or simple chowder, it is ever-so-slightly more sophisticated with the addition of a rosemary/Panko topping. What I love most about this side dish is that it can be dressed up or down. Serve it with burgers and a green salad for a casual weeknight meal, or fancy it up with filet mignon and sautéed mushrooms…either way it will be love at first bite.
Note that if you make this dish one day ahead the flavors will blend nicely but it will thicken up to a consistency similar to that of mac and cheese, instead of the chowder-like consistency shown in the pictures.
Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Chowder
(Yield: serves 4-6 as a side dish)
1/2 of a medium head of cauliflower, chopped into small pieces (4 c chopped)
1 TB olive oil
1 very small (about 2 1/2 oz) onion, finely diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 TB Panko bread crumbs
1 spring fresh rosemary, stem discarded and leaves minced
1 TB unsalted butter
1 TB all-purpose flour
2 c whole milk
4 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350F.
Blanch cauliflower in boiling, salted water until fork tender (3-4 minutes); drain immediately.
In a small skillet, heat olive oil over low heat; add onion and garlic and sauté until tender and just starting to brown (about 5-7 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add bread crumbs and sauté until light golden brown (about 1-2 minutes), stirring frequently. Stir in rosemary and a pinch of salt and pepper and turn off heat.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter; whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in milk, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper, and bring up to a boil (stirring occasionally), then turn heat down slightly and boil gently for 2 minutes (stirring constantly). Turn off heat and whisk in cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
Combine blanched cauliflower and cheese sauce and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture on top and bake until bubbling (about 25 minutes).
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
Looks delicious! Perfect for a cold and rainy day.
That does look yummy to my tummy scrumptious!
:0
valerie
This looks great! I love the idea of using cauliflower…better than pasta :)
I love cauliflower and this sounds like a perfect recipe to enjoy it in. Love that topping :)
Not sure when we started doing this, but we mostly saute brocc and cauli with a little panko, to help it brown up. Will have to go whole hog and try the cheeziness. Cheers!
What a wonderful combination of dishes. The panko topping looks so crisp and would be a wonderful contrast.
This sounds so wonderful.I love anything cheesey.Love the idea of vegetarian chowder!!
I really, really love a good cheesy cauliflower chowder. Cauliflower’s are starting to show their little cool weather heads again at the markets…, something to look forward to through the winter.
A wonderful dish, and a nice departure from my usual cauliflower with tarator sauce!
Hi Faith, I like what you said about dressing this baked cauliflower chowder up or down. It’s interesting that by serving a dish that’s on the richer side in a small amount with an extra touch as a starter or by pairing it with a green salad can change the personality of the dish. I am a lover of cauliflower so this chowder speaks to me and I would love it served either way;-)
Faith, like this cauliflower dish…so creamy and tasty with the cheese in it…perfect for a cold day :-)
this looks so delicious! i need to try this out soon. thank you for sharing this.
Faith,
My kind of dish. I am a big fan of the cauliflower. Just a great course I’d be happy to sink my teeth into anytime.
HI Faith, I have been out of the country for over two weeks–just now getting caught up all the cooking exploits of my food blogging friends. Your cauliflower chowder looks incredible–I love the upscale push with the panko and rosemary. This dish satisfies in the same comforting way as mac-cheese, but it is Way more healthy.
I love it – the best of both worlds! Looks wonderfully creamy and comforting.
Wow..wow! I have breadcrumbs and I know what exactly I am going to do with it :) Lovely recipe, Faith, will try with some other veggie and let you know. Take care.
Looks so rich and creamy! Hard to believe that there’s only 4 oz. of cheese here! Love your chowder/mac creation!
Oooh, yummy! I’ve been wanting to do something cheesy with cauliflower lately and this looks so good!
I am always trying to get my family to eat cauliflower, and this looks like a delightful dish. Maybe if I don’t tell them its cauliflower until after they eat it?…..
I love cauliflower. What a great way to prepare it. It sounds amazing. I might even be able to sneak some veggies into my family with this one:)
Now this is my kind of side dish! Looks delicious, Faith. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds amazing Faith! I love the crunchy topping! Hope your having a great time!
oh my gosh! That sounds fantastic!! I love cream of cauliflower soup and this sounds like an even thicker version. Perfect!
Great way to serve cauliflower! Via mac and cheese and a crunchy top! Super recipe, Faith, and I’ll be trying it soon.
Love cowliflower :Very inviting recipe
i think it is very good
Love cauliflower prepared this way…comforting and delicious.
Cauliflower…chowder…mac and cheese…all those foods evoke such good memories for me. This seems like a bowl of heaven ! Thanks for sharing your creativity in the kitchen! Your words, recipes and photos always bring a big smile to my face. Have a great Monday!
I love all the cheese here, so yummy. And the breadcrumb topping is terrific!
Cauliflower is one of those veggies that I buy because hubby loves it, but I can never decide how to cook it. I’m saving this recipe so I’ll know what to do with it next time!
I love cauliflower and this sounds wonderful! I have a head of cauliflower in my frig and this looks like the perfect way to use it!
Ohmygosh I have goooot to make this! It looks amazing! <3
Thats an inviting and yummy chowder..
This really looks amazing! We love cauliflower, what a great way to enjoy it!
The very best way to eat cauliflower, Yum yum. Diane
this cheesy cauliflower looks rich and creamy.Love it.
You had me at cheesy, my friend. I need to bookmark this and make it soon. This looks delicious! I’ve been meaning to cook with cauliflower more, but haven’t found a recipe I’ve liked yet, other than my usual stir fries. I think I’ve found a winner here. Thanks for sharing. Hope you guys are enjoying your vacation.
This looks amazing, as usual!
This looks so good
Faith…This is certainly a great way to enjoy a sometimes otherwise forgotten vegetable. Nice combo of ingredients.
I also appreciate when cauliflower is roasted ahead of time…it certainly enhances the overall pleasure ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
A perfect combo! That is a chowder I’d gooble happiloy.
Cheers,
Rosa