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Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Bake with Spinach

A comforting cauliflower cheese bake with a difference. Cauliflower and waxy baby potatoes in a cheese and spinach sauce topped with mozzarella and baked until golden. Vegetarian and vegan recipe.

A comforting cauliflower cheese bake with a difference. Cauliflower and waxy baby potatoes in a cheese and spinach sauce topped with mozzarella and baked until golden. Veggie and vegan recipe.


CHEESY CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO BAKE WITH SPINACH


Did I have you at potatoes or was it the cheese?

Think cauliflower cheese with baby potatoes but in a creamy cheese and spinach sauce topped with golden melted mozzarella.

Vegan?

Don't worry recipe can be made vegetarian or vegan.

There really is nothing like a cheesy bake on a dreich, wet day.
CHEESY CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO BAKE WITH SPINACH (VEGGIE & VEGAN RECIPES)


bag of baby gem new potatoes

WAXY POTATOES


You want a waxy potato for this dish.

I used these British Baby Gem Potatoes in my bake.

They have a golden colour and buttery flavour which is great in a salad. 

They were just what I needed in this dish as they are waxy potatoes so they hold their shape and don't break down into moosh.

If you can't find these, any waxy potatoes would be good in this recipe. You can make it with any type of potato you want to use up, but waxy is better.



cauliflower cheese potato bake with a golden cheese topping

CHEESE SAUCE


This cheesy sauce would be fabulous in a broccoli bake, drizzled over vegetables, in a vegetable pie or tossed through pasta

It really is a winner.

It's a basic roux with spinach added at the last minute. 

A roux was one of the first recipes my mum taught me before I left home to head to art college and it's stood me in good stead since then. 

It can be made vegan too, just use vegan butter and milk. It's just as good.


VEGAN CHEESE SAUCE


I've tried a variety of vegan cheese sauces, from powdered mixes to using nutritional yeast for that cheesy flavour, but now I just make my traditional roux with a few tweaks

  • Butter = dairy-free spread or vegan butter
  • Milk = oat milk
  • Cheddar = vegan cheddar and vegan parmesan (the parmesan gives more of a cheesy taste, but you could add nutritional yeast to boost the cheesy flavour)

Like the original version I add English mustard powder and lots of black pepper. 

It makes a gorgeous creamy cheese sauce with lots of flavour that will leave you wanting more.



cauliflower cheese potato bake in a green oven dish

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CHEESY CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO BAKE


  • waxy potatoes - these are best but you could use any potatoes
  • cauliflower
  • milk - dairy or vegan
  • butter - dairy or vegan
  • milk - dairy or vegan
  • plain flour
  • cheddar - dairy or vegan, if using vegan cheddar also add vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast
  • English mustard powder - or regular mustard
  • spinach
  • salt & pepper
  • mozzarella - dairy or vegan

HOW TO SERVE CHEESY CAULIFLOWER & POTATO BAKE


  • Serve it as it is. It's full of veg after all.
  • Serve it with crusty bread to mop up all the lovely cheesy sauce.
  • Serve it with garlic bread and salad.
  • Serve it with green vegetables.
  • Serve it with well-cooked vegan sausages.
  • Serve it as a luxurious side dish.
Love this cheesy potato bake, then try these creamy Mushroom Dauphinoise Potatoes next.


cheese cauliflower and potato bake with spinach




HOW LONG WILL A CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO BAKE KEEP?


You can keep leftover bake in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You want to cool it quickly, so spoon into another dish to cool, then cover and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can reheat in the microwave or the oven.

If you are reheating in the oven, cover with foil so it doesn't brown further.


CAN CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO BAKE BE FROZEN?



Yes, cauliflower and potato bake freezes well.

For best results make up the bake and freeze, don't bake it first.

It can be frozen for 3-4 months and you can freeze it in smaller portions if you like.

Bake from frozen.


MORE CAULIFLOWER RECIPES TO TRY



Here are a few more cauliflower recipes for you to try.



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Cauliflower potato bake with spinach, topped with mozzarella and based until golden



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cauliflower cheese, cauliflower bake, potato bake, cauliflower and potato bake, cheesy potato bake, vegan cauliflower bake, vegetarian cauliflower bake, cauliflower casserole
dinner
Scottish, vegan
Yield: 4-6
Author: Jacqueline Meldrum
Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Bake with Spinach

Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Bake with Spinach

A comforting cauliflower cheese bake with a difference. Cauliflower and waxy baby potatoes in a cheese and spinach sauce topped with mozzarella and baked until golden. Vegetarian and vegan recipe.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 50 Min

Ingredients

  • 1 kg waxy potatoes / 2 lb 2 oz (whole if they are small or cut in half if they are a little bigger, no need to peel them)
  • 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 650 ml / 2 ¾ cups milk (soya or nut milk)
  • 3 tbsp butter (dairy or vegan)
  • 45 g / ½ cup plain flour
  • 150 g / 5 oz cheddar (if using vegan cheddar add vegan parmesan or nooch for extra flavour)
  • 1 tsp English mustard powder
  • a generous handful of fresh spinach
  • a pinch of salt
  • a good grinding of black pepper
  • a good handful of grated mozzarella (dairy or vegan)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200c fan/220c/425f/gas mark 7.
  2. Steam or boil your potatoes and cauliflower. The potatoes will need 15-20 minutes until tender, but the cauliflower will only need 10 minutes. While the veg is cooking, make the sauce.
  3. Melt the butter in a pan, then add the flour and mustard and mix in. Gradually add the milk a little at a time, over a low heat, whisking until it thickens then add more. Keep gradually adding and whisking until thick and glossy. You want to let it bubble towards the end to cook out the flour.
  4. Add in the grated cheddar and whisk until melted, then stir in the spinach. It will start to wilt quickly. Season with salt and pepper
  5. Pour the vegetables into one or two baking dishes, depending on how big they are, then pour over the cheese sauce and top with the mozzarella.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
  7. Enjoy!

Notes:

Waxy potatoes work best in this dish as they hold their shape, but you can use any potatoes you want to use up.

You can use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh.

If you are using frozen spinach, you will have to defrost it first so it can be mixed through and not just in one clump.

Kale can be used instead of spinach.

You can keep leftover bake in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Yes, cauliflower and potato bake freezes well.

Calories

669.95

Fat (grams)

28.86

Sat. Fat (grams)

16.65

Carbs (grams)

78.23

Fiber (grams)

9.63

Net carbs

68.60

Sugar (grams)

6.40

Protein (grams)

28.32

Sodium (milligrams)

580.94

Cholesterol (grams)

84.68

26 comments

  1. Thank you so much for the vegan version too! I've been wanting to try out vegan butter and spreads, and this will give me just the excuse to pick them all up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you pick a good one you will really enjoy it. Violife make great vegan cheeses that melt well and taste good and so do Sainsburys.

      Delete
  2. Would love to try this on a cold day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can't beat a comforting bake like this on a cold day.

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  3. How can that glorious drippy cheese sauce be VEGAN? I'm all over it!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, the secret is a good vegan cheese that melts well and to make a thick roux sauce to start with.

      Delete
  4. Great idea for your cheese sauce. I can just imagine that over potatoes and cauliflower. I will be making it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh good, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did Ginny!

      Delete
  5. Yeah, you had me at potatoes AND cheese! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks fabulous. This is on my list for dinner tonight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  7. Ah yes, I'm in for a cheesy potato bake any day! This looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi, looks great, can it be frozen?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You could freeze it. You may find the vegetables are a little softer when cooked from frozen after the initial cooking.

      Delete
  9. Oh, yummy! When my son was small, I used to make something similar to this, and it was always one of his favourite meals. Cauli and potato are such a great combo, aren't they? Add some cheese, and it's comfort food a-go-go! Fantastic! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is definitely a family pleaser this one. Although Cooper said he would prefer the potatoes and cauliflower in the cheese sauce separately. Go figure!

      Delete
  10. Chessy and potatoes are two great words to see together ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, I definitely wouldn't have guessed that this is vegan! It looks so creamy! I'll be trying this one for sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It can be made the same way veggie or vegan and it's very creamy. The secret is in a good roux sauce.

      Delete
  12. I could have sworn I'd already commented on this one, but I've seen it so often over the last few days, I'm dreaming of it. It looks and sounds so delicious and just the sort of dinner I love to tuck into - winter or summer ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Choclette, hope you aren't seeing it too often.

      Delete
  13. why doesn't your Pin button ever work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh shoot, is in not? The one in the recipe card should be ok. Will have to look into that. Thanks for letting me know.

      Delete

I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x