Gordon Ramsay Baked Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Bake Recipe

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Gordon Ramsay’s Mac n Cheese Cauliflower recipe gives the humble cauliflower such an excellent makeover that it will make you fall in love with it all over again. It’s hands down the best version of cauliflower that I have tried.

Gordon Ramsay Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Recipe

I am sure you are curious about what makes this recipe unique. Well, this recipe is super easy to prepare and can be made beforehand. I got this recipe right on the very first attempt.

While preparing it, I found using three different kinds of cheese brilliant. The combination of cheese makes each bite an explosion of umami and savory flavors. Moreover, I fell in love with how the contrasting textures of macaroni and cauliflower offer an excellent mouthfeel.

By now, I have given out quite a few exciting reasons for you to check out the full recipe. So, take a look at the full recipe. You will find many more unique qualities of this dish in the sections below.

What's In The Post

Equipment Required

Bowls – Keep a set of bowls handy as they will help you hold boiled and drained cauliflower and macaroni.
Knife – A knife will be required to cut cauliflower florets.
Large Pot – You will need a large pot to boil the cauliflower and macaroni.
Balloon Whisk – A balloon whisk will come in handy to prepare a smooth sauce.
Grater – You will need a grater to grate the cheese.
Gratin Dish – You will need a gratin dish to bake the cauliflower mac and cheese.

Gordon Ramsay Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Ingredients

Gordon Ramsay Baked Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Bake Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: This recipe is large enough to make four mac and cheese cauliflower portions. You can increase or decrease the quantity of ingredients depending on how many people you’re serving.

11 Ounces Cauliflower Florets: Fresh cauliflower works best to prepare this dish. However, I also use frozen cauliflower florets. Be sure to defrost them before boiling.
¼ Cup Dried Macaroni: You can use gluten-free, wheat, or wholegrain macaroni. If you don’t find macaroni, you can use a short-shaped pasta like penne, which holds the sauce well.
4 Tablespoon Butter, plus a few extra knobs: It’s best to make use of unsalted butter as it will prevent the dish from becoming too salty. Let’s remember that cheese also has a salty flavor profile.
4 Tablespoon Plain Flour: Flour thickens the sauce. You can also use cornstarch as a gluten-free alternative. However, there will be a slight difference in taste.
2 Teaspoon English Mustard: English mustard will add a tangy flavor to the sauce. If you don’t find it, I recommend you add some sour cream, Dijon mustard, or horseradish to the sauce.
21 Ounces Whole Milk: You will need milk to prepare the sauce. While I found that whole milk provides the best result, you can also use soy, oat, low-fat, or skim milk.
½ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper will add a spicy and smoky flavor to the dish. However, you can use smoked paprika or simple black pepper if you don’t have it.
2 Teaspoon Salt
3.5 Ounces Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated: If you don’t find mature cheddar cheese, you can use other varieties of cheddar cheese or Colby or Edam cheese. However, make sure to purchase a block of cheese and grate it at home, as pre-shredded cheese comes coated with additives that can spoil the texture of your sauce.
3.5 Ounces Lancashire Cheese, crumbled: If you cannot find Lancashire cheese, you can use Cheshire, Monetary Jack, Colby, or Gouda cheese.
3.5 Ounces Cheshire Cheese, crumbled: Some good substitutes for Cheshire cheese include Wensleydale, white Cheddar, or Caerphilly cheese.
3 Tablespoon Fresh White Breadcrumbs: You can use regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
1 Tablespoon Thyme Leaves: Try to use fresh thyme leaves for a subtle flavor. However, if you don’t have fresh thyme, use dried thyme in half the quantity, as it has a stronger flavor.

Preparation & Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
20 Minutes	1 Hour	1 Hour 20 Minutes

How To Make Gordon Ramsay Cauliflower Mac And Cheese At Home

How To Make Gordon Ramsay Baked Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Bake At Home

Step 1

Add water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil, along with some salt.

Step 2

Add the medium-sized cauliflower florets to the water and boil them for 5 minutes.

Step 3

Bring some more water to a boil in a separate saucepan and add in the macaroni. Let it boil till fully cooked..

Step 4

Strain the water from both and keep it aside in separate bowls.

Step 5

Mix the boiled pasta and cauliflower in a large bowl along with a dollop of butter.

Step 6

Place a different saucepan on the stove and add the remaining butter. Let it melt.

Step 7

Add plain flour to the melted butter.

Step 8

Once the flour and butter are mixed, add the English mustard.

Step 9

Mix the mixture well and pour in the milk.

Step 10

Let the sauce come to a boil and then thicken a bit.

Step 11

Add some cayenne pepper and salt to the sauce.

Step 12

To the sauce, add sharp cheddar cheese.

Step 13

Follow that by adding the Lanchester cheese.

Step 14

Lastly, add the Cheshire cheese and let the sauce thicken.

Step 15

Switch off the stove and pour in the macaroni and cauliflower mixture.

Step 16

Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, and sprinkle the top with black pepper and breadcrumbs.

Step 17

Now, grate some of the three types of cheese on top.

Step 18

Your macaroni cheese and cauliflower are ready to be baked.

Step 19

Place it in a preheated oven and let the dish bake for 15 minutes at 392 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gordon Ramsay Style Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Step 20

Voila! your dish is ready to be served!

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Add chopped jalapeno, fresh pickles, and diced green chiles if you enjoy spicy and tangy flavors. The result is delicious!
I have assembled this dish beforehand many times. You can also prepare all its elements, like cheese sauce, boiled cauliflower, and macaroni, and store them in the refrigerator. Assemble it and bake it right before you want to eat it.
For a creamier texture and depth of flavor, I suggest combining a mix of aged cheeses like Fontina or Gruyere.
I broil the mac and cheese for the last 2-3 minutes of baking for a crispy top layer.

FAQs About Gordon Ramsay Baked Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Bake

Why has your Gordon Ramsay mac and cheese cauliflower turned grainy in texture?

The texture of your mac and cheese can become grainy if the cheese has not melted correctly or you have used processed or pre-shredded cheese that contains additives. Furthermore, using too much flour and letting the sauce sit for an extended period can also lead to a grainy texture of the dish.

Why is this mac and cheese watery?

Your mac and cheese can turn watery if you add too much milk or don’t drain your cauliflower well. So, add the required amount of milk and drain your cauliflower after boiling correctly. You can also pat it dry with a paper towel. To fix the dish, you can thicken it with roux or cornstarch.

Why is this mac and cheese cauliflower oily?

Overheating the cheese or letting the sauce sit for too long can cause the fat to separate from the cheese, creating an oily sauce. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, cook the sauce at the right temperature and use lower-fat cheeses.

How can you fix thick or dry mac and cheese cauliflower sauce?

You can quickly fix thick or dry mac and cheese sauce by thinning out your cheese sauce and adding milk or cream a tablespoon at a time.

How can you see that the cauliflower doesn’t become too soft when mixed with macaroni?

To prevent the cauliflower from turning too soft, under-boil it a little (to the point where you get a bite), as it will cook further during baking.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Gordon Ramsay Baked Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Bake is a moderately healthy dish as a single portion has about 250 calories. Moreover, it’s also high in carbohydrates.

Therefore, you should balance out your meal by pairing it with some protein on the side.

Calories	250 kcal
Carbohydrates	46 g
Protein	9 g
Fat	3 g
Saturated Fat	1.5 g
Cholesterol	10 mg
Sodium	550 mg
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	7 g

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Gordon Ramsay’s Mac n Cheese Cauliflower recipe can be easily customized to make it suitable for vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free & keto diets.

Vegan: I haven’t tested a vegan version of this dish, but you can easily use any vegan cashew cheese sauce.
Gluten-Free: You can use gluten-free macaroni and replace plain flour with cornstarch to make it gluten-friendly.
Keto: You can make this recipe keto-friendly by replacing macaroni with more cauliflower florets.

Storing This Recipe

Storing

For Elements Not Assembled To Make The Baked Dish: If you have boiled cauliflower, macaroni, and cheese sauce, you can store all three in airtight containers in the refrigerator. They will stay as they are for about two days.
For An Assembled Baked Dish, once it comes to room temperature, you can store a fully baked dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Reheating

On the stove: I recommend reheating mac’ n cheese in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through and the cheese is melted. Add a dash of butter and milk to the skillet and stir it occasionally to prevent the cheese from sticking to the pan.
Microwave: Mac and cheese cauliflower can also be reheated in the microwave. Place the desired quantity in a microwave-safe bowl, cover the bowl with a lid, and heat it on medium-high heat for about 2-3 minutes.
In Oven: You can reheat leftovers in a casserole pan in a 350℉ preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until uniformly heated.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Roast Chicken: Roast chicken is one of those recipes that can never go wrong. It also makes a lovely accompaniment to this baked macaroni cheese and cauliflower.
Caesar Chicken Salad: Full of fresh and lively flavors, Caesar chicken salad is the perfect protein to serve with baked macaroni cheese and cauliflower.
Pan-Seared Salmon: If you want to keep your meal light and healthy, try serving your mac’ n cheese with pan-seared salmon.
Sauteed Vegetables: Make your meal more colorful by serving sauteed veggies on the side.
Garlic Bread: Pair your mac n cheese with garlic bread to enjoy a classic meal. It has tons of roasted garlic flavor that goes amazingly well with mac n cheese.

Printable Version

More Gordon Ramsay Recipes That You Can Try

Gordon Ramsay Stew Recipe — Gordon Ramsay Mutton Stew

Gordon Ramsay shrimp scampi with pasta — Gordon Ramsay Mutton Stew

Conclusion

This recipe proves that baked dishes can be anything but complicated. The process followed for this recipe is simple, along with the ingredients, which is a huge plus.

As long as you take care of little tips and tricks on how to get this recipe right, the chances of it not turning out excellent are minimal. So, go about the above recipe, and you will impress everyone, including yourself! After trying it out, please share your feedback in the comments section below.