This comforting gluten free and vegetarian broccoli cauliflower casserole is perfect for midweek meals!

 

Yield: 6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

Gluten Free Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Bake

As soon as the weather turns cold, everybody's all about comforting bakes and casseroles, but I think those chilly spring days, when the weather is transitioning from freezing-all-the-time to freezing-every-now-and-then, comfort food is just as important! We're not often in the mood for heavy gluten free soups and stews, but something light like a vegetarian casserole topped with oozing cheese? Yeah, we're all over that!

Yesterday, I shared my recipe for the easiest ever gluten free cheese sauce. Guess what? That delicious, butter-free sauce is the base of this recipe. So before you get started, you'll need to whip up a batch. Don't worry; it's quick and easy to make!

Ingredients:

For the broccoli cauliflower cheese bake
1 tablespoon garlic granules/garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, diced
2 shallots, diced
30g grated Pecorino cheese
300g fresh broccoli
100g fresh cauliflower
600ml gluten free olive oil cheese sauce
salt
black pepper

Need a conversion? Use this handy chart.

How to Make Gluten Free Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Bake

Broccoli and cheese casserole is a classic in America. It's often jazzed up with chicken or bacon or pasta. No matter how it's served, it always goes down a treat. Here in the UK, it's broccoli and cauliflower that everyone loves. I'll admit, I've never been too keen on cauliflower which is why I only use a little amount in this recipe. But if cauliflower is your thing, feel free to increase the quantity as much as you'd like!

Most cheese sauces are usually made from a roux, a blend of butter and wheat flour, making them unsuitable for coeliacs. This cheese sauce is different. For one, it uses cornflour or corn starch as a thickening agent and secondly, I've omitted the butter and opted for a good-quality olive oil. Seriously, make sure you grab the recipe here so you can make it. You'll love it!

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200c/400f.
2. Make the cheese sauce.
3. Fill a saucepan with about an inch or so of water and steam the broccoli and cauliflower for about four minutes, strain, then pour the broccoli and cauliflower into a baking dish.
4. Heat the oil and fry the garlic and shallots until golden, about two minutes.
5. Add to the broccoli and cauliflower and stir.
6. Season with salt, pepper and the garlic granules/powder.
7. Pour in the cheese sauce and stir well to combine.
8. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle over the Pecorino and serve.

More warm weather recipes:

Chicken and Raspberry Salad

Single Serving American Style Lemonade

Gluten Free Nesquik Nutella Popsicles