Mushroom Free Classic Cauliflower Gratin
Bubbling, golden, and deeply comforting, this cauliflower gratin is the kind of dish that makes a humble vegetable feel genuinely luxurious. Tender florets get blanketed in a silky Gruyère béchamel — built from butter, flour, whole milk, and a whisper of nutmeg — then finished with a buttered panko crust that crisps up beautifully in the oven. For anyone navigating a diet that rules out fungi, gratins can sometimes feel risky because store-bought versions or restaurant preparations sneak in umami boosters that aren't always obvious on the label. Here, every single component is straightforward and easy to verify: fresh cauliflower, classic French sauce, cheese, and breadcrumbs — nothing hidden, nothing ambiguous. The layering technique matters too; steam-drying the blanched florets before saucing keeps the béchamel thick and clinging rather than watery. A five-minute rest after baking lets everything settle into those gorgeous, scoopable portions. Finish with a scatter of fresh parsley and you've got a side dish that looks like it came out of a Parisian bistro kitchen.
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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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