It took me a long time to come around to microwave ovens. I think I was the last person on the planet to get one, after being urged to by my elderly father! Still, I don't cook in it. All I ever use it for is to heat up those hot pads or a plate of leftovers, or to melt a bit of butter. Glad to find another use for it.
This is so quick and easy and doesn't make a big cooking mess in the middle of the day. Just cut up the cauliflower, stir up the seasonings and water, pour it on, cover, and pop it into the microwave for 6 minutes.
While it's cooking, shred the cheese, stir the cornstarch into the milk. When the microwave dings, take out the cauliflower, drain off the liquid, stir in the cheese and milk, zap it for another 2 minutes, and Bob's your uncle!
Of course, microwave ovens are all different, so your times might not be the same as those that I figured out for mine. What do you use a microwave for? What sort of things do you usually have for lunch?
Microwave Cauliflower Cheese for One
(Makes a bit over 1 cup)
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces/170 grams—about quarter of a 2-pound/1 kg cauliflower) cauliflower florets
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pinch of coarsely ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne
Pinch of dry mustard
2 tablespoons (1 ounce/30 ml) water
1/2 tablespoon (0.25 ounce/7 grams) unsalted butter
1/2 packed cup (2 ounces/57 grams) shredded cheddar or other cheese
1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces/59 ml) milk
1 teaspoon cornstarch or tapioca flour
Note: You can use all cheddar, if you like, or a combination of cheeses. I think using half Monterey jack makes it creamier. And, at the same time, you can toast a few fresh breadcrumbs on the stovetop for a pretty topping. 😉
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pinch of coarsely ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne
Pinch of dry mustard
2 tablespoons (1 ounce/30 ml) water
1/2 tablespoon (0.25 ounce/7 grams) unsalted butter
1/2 packed cup (2 ounces/57 grams) shredded cheddar or other cheese
1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces/59 ml) milk
1 teaspoon cornstarch or tapioca flour
Note: You can use all cheddar, if you like, or a combination of cheeses. I think using half Monterey jack makes it creamier. And, at the same time, you can toast a few fresh breadcrumbs on the stovetop for a pretty topping. 😉
1 Put the bite-size cauliflower florets in a 2-cup glass measure (I love my Pyrex glass measuring cups!). In a tiny bowl, stir together salt, pepper, cayenne, and dry mustard; stir in the water. Pour over the cauliflower and add the butter. Cover (I use a 6-inch silicone lid) and microwave on full power for 6 minutes (your oven might differ), until tender or nearly so (whatever you prefer). Drain off the liquid.
2 Add the cheese to the cooking cup. In a little bowl, stir the milk and cornstarch together. Stir it and the cheese into the cauliflower. With the lid ajar, microwave on full power for 2 minutes (your oven might differ), until the cheese has melted and a smooth sauce has formed.
3 Stir and serve on a small plate and, if you're feeling fancy, garnish with toasted breadcrumbs. Or just eat it out of the measuring cup; I won't tell! 😁
BTW, that's one of my pretty ThermoWorks hot pad/trivets (my favorite pot holders) in the photos.
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Jean
Jean
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43 comments:
I'm always looking for a quick lunch, Jean. This looks great and healthy! I was one of those people that didn't get a microwave for years! I only use it to reheat things--It's quite convenient for that.
Martha, thank you. I hope you like this as much as I do. I'm going to be making it again today!
Excellent quick lunch idea. Will have to try the veganized version of this for my lunch one of these days.
Thank you, Victoria. And it's so easy to veganize, especially now when vegan cheeses have really improved.
This looks like a really tasty meal! Now I wish I didn't throw away my old microwave :-//
Holy water sizzling as it touches my skin, and I’m cringing before the light! Cauliflower!!! I’m printing out your recipe and substituting in tomato cheese on toast for cauliflower (my own quick comfort food). P.S. just bought a new microwave yesterday and gave my old one to the Salvation Army. They are handy, though I basically use one to reheat foods and nuke sink sponges (1 minute on high) to kill germs.
Thanks, Angie! You can get a very little microwave for very little money, and it takes up very little space!
Thanks, Sully, for the reminder of another good use for my little microwave: sponge nuking! And a tomato cheese on toast sounds tempting right now. But I bet you'd really like the cauliflower cheese if you gave it a go!
Make sure you nuke those sink sponges when they are damp, Jean.
Good point, Sully! I appreciate the reminder. It's been a while.
Sounds tasty but we haven't used a microwave in over two years now. Daughter's cancer doctor told her to stop using hers so we stopped too. It was easy for me but hard for hubby. Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 32. Pinned!
I love recipe concepts like this one, Jean! Will definitely give it a go the next time I have cauliflower on hand. :-) And you've taught me something new as I had to look up "Bob's your uncle!" LOL
Thanks!
Shirley
hi there could you offer a printable copy please
love your recipes
Ooh, I love anything cheesy and had never thought of tackling it in the microwave. Thank you, Jean!
Easy and quick, but most of all tasty. Winner! Great idea for lunch -- thanks.
Perfect!! I´ll be making this for sure. Use my microwave for warming up leftovers or cold tea.
Cauliflower cheese was one of the first of my culinary successes when I got interested in cooking in my early twenties far back in the early 70s, Jean. Then things such as lasagne and inventing bolognaise sauces followed. However because of slightly high cholesterol levels in recent years I have stopped eating cheese. So I haven’t made this in years. I suppose like everybody of my age I am on statins. I run everyday and my diet is healthy. I probably don’t really have a problem with cholesterol but out government to keep problems with heart conditions at a minimum would rather like everybody to take statins. Enough of health cooking and politics now. Great recipe.
Being a cauliflower fan, I'm thanking you in advance for this recipe. Sounds delicious and a must try soon.
Thank you so much, Dee! I know what you mean about the health concerns with microwaves. Of course, you can make this in a little 1-quart saucepan on the stove just as easily.
Thanks so much, Shirley. And glad you liked "Bob's your uncle!"
Thank you, Unknown. So glad you like my recipes. I would have to get some technical assistance to add that feature to the blog, but you can always do what I do on other blogs: Just copy and paste into a document, then you can either print it out or save it as a PDF. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Pauline! Perfect for those of us who work from home! Hope you'll try it soon.
John, thank you. It's even quicker than making a cocktail!
Thanks, Darlene. Do let me know how you liked it!
Tony, thanks so much for commenting. I won't go into it here, but if you'd like my view on cholesterol and statins, you know where to find me!
Lea Ann, thanks so much. Yes, we do love our cauliflower! Do let me know how you like this.
Ha! Ha! I have just noticed the comment referencing, "Bob's your uncle." I hadn't realised you used that in your commentary Jean. Just shows you I skim and scan too much.
Where did a British phrase like that come from all of a sudden? "Cor blimey," Jean you'll be saying ,"Bob's your uncle," to the check out staff at Walmart next.
Too funny, Tony! Britspeak is in my genes, and in the books and movies I watch! Walmart, not so much. I've never actually shopped there.
I need to try this for a healthier lunch! Thanks for sharing.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks, Kathrine. I hope you will. It's just as quick and easy as an UNhealthy lunch! :D
Funny I just picked up a beautiful purple cauliflower. I'm going to make this tonight...but not in the microwave. Why? Because I ace you on being the last person to get a microwave. Wait! I don't have one yet. I used to say I was the last virtuous cook because I hadn't succumbed to getting one. My children just said they were microwave-deprived in their childhood. Go figure...I don't have any power tools to use in the garden either. Thanks for the recipe. It tastes just right in my mind!
Jean I have a feeling we may have similar thoughts on cholesterol and statins. Bring on the cheese. Keep away from the statins!
Sue, yes, you can easily do this without a microwave—and I applaud you! Yes, I'm afraid the statins are wildly overprescribed and often do more harm than good.
yes i am not very good with microwaves. i just heat things up and melt chocolate in it. this sounds good tho.
Thanks, Sherry! I'm going to make it again for my lunch tomorrow. I might be getting into a rut!
I can't say I'm world's biggest cauli fan but this does sound good. And mostly it sounds VERY easy!
Thanks, Jeanie. And the thing about this is that it makes cauliflower taste good even to people who don't like cauliflower! Just pretend it's macaroni and cheese!
Yum! Perhaps one to try!
We do enjoy the taste of cauliflower.
All the best Jan
Thanks, Jan. Yes, it's the low-carb version of macaroni cheese! Happy Autumn (almost)!
What a quick and easy meal for one, Jean! I’d love to try this for sure!
Thanks, Kitty. I love it for my solo lunches. Hope you like it, too!
I have never had cauliflower cheese, and obviously I need to remedy that. This sounds like the perfect dish for a chilly autumn or winter day. Thanks, Jean — you are always bringing something new and different to my life!
Thank you so much, David. And you certainly do the same for me!
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