Creamy Cauliflower With Cheese And Bacon

Creamy Cauliflower With Cheese and Bacon

Fabulous side dish worthy of company! So simple, yet so very tasty. This is a pretty side dish with plenty of lovely color.

Ingredients:

4 cups cauliflower florets (1 L)

Cheese Sauce

4 oz cream cheese (125 g)

2/3 cup (150 ml) Monterey or Cheddar cheese

3 tbsp butter (45 mL)
1/3 cup low-carb milk, almond milk OR (75 mL) whipping cream
1 tbsp water (15 mL)
1/4 tsp salt, OR to taste (1 mL)

1/8 tsp white pepper (0.5 mL)

Directions:

In nonstick pan or pot, combine cream cheese, butter, low-carb milk, OR whipping cream, water, salt and white pepper.  Whisk occasionally.  Stir in Cheddar cheese until it melts and sauce is smooth.  Add extra water if necessary 1 tablespoon (15 mL) at a time.

Topping:

2/3 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese (150 mL)

4 slices cooked bacon, chopped

2 tbsp chopped, fresh parsley (30 mL) 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).  

In pot boiling water, cook cauliflower until tender, or steam the cauliflower. Drain cauliflower well. On chopping board, chop cauliflower into smaller pieces.  

In large bowl, combine cauliflower and Cheese Sauce (see ingredient listing).  Place cauliflower in 2-qt (2 L) shallow casserole dish. 

Topping:  In small bowl combine 2/3  cup (150 mL) grated Cheddar cheese, bacon and parsley.  Sprinkle over the top of the cauliflower.

Bake about 15 minutes, or until slightly browned and bubbly.  You could put the casserole under the broiler for 2 minutes to brown the cauliflower a little more.

Yield:  6 servings