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.
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.
Equipment Required For Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe
To make your cooking process a breeze, I have listed the equipment you will require to prepare this dish.
- 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 Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe 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.Â
Please look at the ingredients below that are required to prepare this recipe.
- 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 Powder – English mustard powder 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.Â
- 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.
Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe Preparation & Cooking Time
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Minutes | 40 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
How To Make Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe
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 powder.
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 little pieces of 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.
Step 20- Voila! your dish is ready to be served!
Frequently Asked Questions About Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe
Some Tips & Tricks To Make This Recipe Better
I’m sure you will enjoy making this dish. However, before you start, I suggest you look at some tips that helped me ace this recipe.
- 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.
Gordon Ramsay Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Nutritional Values
Gordon Ramsay’s baked macaroni cheese and cauliflower 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.
| Nutrients | Values |
|---|---|
| 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 of Mac n Cheese Cauliflower
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.
- Dairy-Free – For a dairy-free version, you can prepare the sauce using dairy-free alternatives like almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, nutritional yeast, and cheddar-style shreds.
- 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.
How To Store & Reheat Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe
This section will show you the best way to store Gordon Ramsay’s mac n cheese cauliflower 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.
Serving Suggestions With Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe
Gordon Ramsay’s mac and cheese tastes fantastic as it is. However, you can pair it with a few dishes to enjoy a wholesome meal.
- 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 Of Gordon Ramsay Mac n Cheese Cauliflower Recipe
Gooey Gordon Ramsay Baked Macaroni Cheese And Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Dried Macaroni
- 11 ounces Cauliflower Florets
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 4 tablespoons Plain Flour
- 2 teaspoons English Mustard Powder
- 21 fl. ounces Whole Milk
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 3.5 ounces Matured Cheddar Cheese
- 3.5 ounces Lancashire Cheese
- 3.5 ounces Cheshire Cheese
- 3 tablespoons Breadcrumbs
- 1 sprig Thyme
Equipment
- Bowls
- Knife
- Large Pot
- Balloon Whisk
- Grater
- Gratin Dish
Instructions
- Add water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil, along with some salt.
- Add the medium-sized cauliflower florets to the water and boil them for 5 minutes.
- Bring some more water to a boil in a separate saucepan and add in the macaroni. Let it boil till fully cooked.
- Strain the water from both and keep it aside in separate bowls.
- Mix the boiled pasta and cauliflower in a large bowl along with a dollop of butter.
- Place a different saucepan on the stove and add the remaining butter. Let it melt.
- Add plain flour to the melted butter.
- Once the flour and butter are mixed, add the English mustard powder.
- Mix the mixture well and pour in the milk.
- Let the sauce come to a boil and then thicken a bit.
- Add some cayenne pepper and salt to the sauce.
- To the sauce, add little pieces of sharp cheddar cheese.
- Follow that by adding the Lanchester cheese.
- Lastly, add the Cheshire cheese and let the sauce thicken.
- Switch off the stove and pour in the macaroni and cauliflower mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, and sprinkle the top with black pepper and breadcrumbs.
- Now, grate some of the three types of cheese on top.
- Your macaroni cheese and cauliflower are ready to be baked.
- Please place it in a preheated oven and let the dish bake for 15 minutes at 392 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Voila, your dish is ready to be served!
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe ?Tag @thefoodxp on Instagram and Hashtag it #thefoodxp!More Gordon Ramsay Recipes You Can Try
I’m sure you are a big fan of Gordon Ramsay’s recipes; that’s why you are here. So, allow me to share more of his recipes, which you can try.
- Gordon Ramsay Mutton Stew—Relish the outstanding flavors of Gordon Ramsay Mutton Stew, which is delicious and hearty at the same time.
- Gordon Ramsay Shrimp Scampi – Treat the seafood lover inside you to shrimp scampi, a dish that best uses shrimps.
- Gordon Ramsay Ratatouille – Enjoy the heavenly taste of veggies baked in tomato sauce for a healthy yet delicious meal.
- Gordon Ramsay Spaghetti Bolognese – Chef Ramsay’s spaghetti bolognese is no less than a masterpiece. Learn how to make bolognese from scratch and toss it with spaghetti.
- Gordon Ramsay Tiramisu – End your meal with a decadent tiramisu made with espresso, sponge fingers, mascarpone, and chocolate!
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.
