High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Classic Cauliflower Gratin
Bubbling, golden, and deeply comforting, this cauliflower gratin is the kind of dish that turns a humble vegetable into something genuinely showstopping. A silky homemade béchamel — built from butter, flour, and whole milk — gets loaded with nutty Gruyère and spooned over blanched cauliflower florets before the whole thing goes into a hot oven. That from-scratch sauce is exactly what makes this recipe so easy to trust: every ingredient is straightforward and recognizable, with no processed shortcuts or sweetened additives hiding in the mix. Packaged gratins and boxed sauce mixes are notorious for sneaking in corn-derived sweeteners, so making this entirely from whole ingredients gives you total control over what ends up on the table. The panko and melted butter topping crisps up beautifully in the oven, giving you that irresistible crunch against the creamy, cheesy sauce underneath. A final scatter of fresh parsley keeps things bright and pulls the whole dish together. It's the kind of side that earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 2 lbs), cut into 1 ½-inch florets
- 1 tsp salt, plus more for the blanching water
For the béchamel
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup gruyère cheese, finely grated (about 3 oz), divided
For the topping
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4 minutes, until just barely tender when pierced with a knife but still holding their shape. Drain in a colander and let steam-dry for 2 minutes.
- 2
Melt 3 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture turns a pale golden color and smells faintly nutty.
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