Mac and Cheese With a Surprise!

Surprise?  Are you wondering what kind of surprise might be hidden in this mac and cheese?

Can you guess?  Look carefully….

It’s cauliflower, pureed into a delicious sauce along with chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and Gouda cheese.
The inspiration for this recipe came from Runner’s World Magazine.  Each month a healthy recipe is featured, this one by chef Mark Bittman.  Click here for the original recipe.


Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 Cauliflower, cored and cut into large pieces
16 oz macaroni
1 1/2 cups cheese 
2 T EVOO
1 T Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cups whole-grain bread crumbs

1.  Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2.  Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.  Core cauliflower and cut into large chunks.  Boil cauliflower for 25 min.
3.  Heat chicken broth and bay leaves over low heat. 
4.  When cauliflower is finished, remove from water with a slotted spoon and put cauliflower into a food processor along with chicken broth, EVOO, cheese, mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper. 
5.  Add macaroni to boiling water and cook for 7 minutes.  Drain and put into a greased 13x9 casserole dish. 
6.  Pour sauce over macaroni and stir to combine.  Top with breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese.
7.  Bake for 20 minutes.

I made this recipe as a test and was surprised at how much we both liked it.  I served it with sautéed fresh spinach and garlic. 


Meatless meals aren’t unusual for us.  We both like to eat meat, but neither of us thinks twice if we don’t have it with a meal.  My friend Shannon has a “Meatless Monday” series on her blog if you are interested in more meatless meal ideas. 


I like a recipe that makes a lot so that there are leftovers. We’ll enjoy this as a side for a few more meals.


To make the spinach, heat a few tablespoons of EVOO in a stockpot (I used the one that I cooked the macaroni and cauliflower in so that I wouldn’t have to wash two pots).  Add chopped garlic and sauté  for a minute or two.  Add sliced, fresh spinach and toss with tongs until it wilts.  Season with salt to taste.

Do you eat meatless meals?