Air fryer recipe · Starters
Cauliflower Cheese Bites
Tender cauliflower florets cloaked in a sharp cheddar sauce and crisp golden crumbs.
- 24 minTotal time
- 190°CAir fryer
- 6Serves
- VegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 185kcal
- 8.2 gprotein
- 13.9 gcarbs
- 11.0 gfat
- 2.0 gfibre
Per serving, about 6 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower florets500 g
- Mature cheddar, grated100 g
- Butter25 g
- Plain flour25 g
- Milk250 ml
- Breadcrumbs50 g
Method
Blanch the florets
Simmer the cauliflower florets for four minutes until just tender, then drain them really well. Getting rid of the extra water now keeps the cheese sauce thick and stops it turning thin and watery in the dish.
Make the cheese sauce
Melt the butter, stir in the flour and cook for a minute, then whisk in the milk a little at a time to a smooth, thick sauce. Take it off the heat and stir in most of the cheddar until it melts glossy.
Coat the cauliflower
Fold the drained florets through the cheese sauce until every piece is well covered. Tip them into a small basket-safe dish and spread them level so they heat evenly and the top browns all over.
Add the crumb top
Mix the breadcrumbs with the leftover cheddar and scatter the mix over the top. This crumb layer crisps up in the hot air and gives a crunchy contrast to the soft, creamy florets underneath.
Air-fry until bubbling
Cook at 190C for 14 min until the top is deep golden and the sauce is bubbling at the edges. Rest it for three minutes before serving so the sauce settles and does not run off the spoon.
