Cauliflower Cheese Toast

Name: Cauliflower Cheese Toast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 cups cauliflower (around 250g); 1 garlic clove; 2 tbsp butter; 1/2 tsp dried thyme; Salt & Pepper to taste; 4 tbsp greek yogurt; 1 tbsp mustard; 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg; 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded); 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded); 6 slices gouda cheese; 1/2 cup parmesan cheese; 1 large baguette

A quick and easy snack, starter or side dish that is perfect for any time of the day. With a cheesy and gooey cauliflower topping, a dash of nutmeg and a crusty golden baguette this veggie packed recipe is so simple to make and delicious too.

Okay this is a combination of two nostalgic recipes. Cauliflower cheese bake and Cheese toasties. Growing up my grandfather (xapai) made the best cauliflower cheese bake EVER. I can remember the taste until today and I make it almost once every single month. The origin of this recipe comes from the leftovers of my cauliflower cheese which I turned into toasties and they were bomb! So I made a simple version of the recipe – one which you can make without having any leftovers and using minimal ingredients and with a lot of options.

In saying this I love a good old toastie, regular cheese toastie which is perfect with a thick slice of sourdough bread but you can use baguette like I have done here. I have also made these toasties with hot dog rolls which are perfect, if you are feeling more extra you can use a brioche loaf as well. Basically you can use any bread you like, the filling is so good, you can eat it straight out of the pan! My mum ate it with Maggi noodles and hot sauce, trying not to judge her. Lets get to it.

What is cauliflower cheese toast?

Think cheese toast but with the addition of cauliflower. It is crusty, gooey, soft and crunchy. It is a quick and easy hot appetizer or starter you can prepare in little time and is very comforting not to mention you can use any bread or cheese you have leftover in your kitchen to prepare it. These are open faced toasties but you could make them like sandwiches.

What ingredients do you need to make cauliflower cheese toast?

To make this recipe we need cauliflower, I have used raw cauliflower and just sautéed it in a pan with a little salt and butter. You could use leftover steamed or roasted cauliflower from the night before as well. To make the filling we need shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, yogurt, mustard, butter, salt, pepper, nutmeg and a little thyme. I have also used gouda slices in the toastie. For the toast I use a baguette but you can use any bread roll situation. There is a little parmesan grated on top before baking.

What kinds of cheese can you use to make this recipe?

Apart for the ones I have mentioned above you can use provolone, gruyere, mature cheddar, any melting cheese that you like the flavor of or any cheese you have in your fridge. I have made these with Kraft cheese and maul cheese as well so no judgement here on the cheese you use. You can add cube cheese like laughing cow or kiri or cheese spread or cream cheese instead of the yogurt to make it creamy but I was keeping it lighter and I think the acidity from the yogurt cuts through the fat from the cheese.

What equipment do you need to make cauliflower cheese toast?

I use a chefs knife to cut the cauliflower into small pieces you could also use a food processor and pulse it until coarse. I have processed the cheese to shred it but you could just grate it using a box grater or microplane. The cauliflower is cooked in a sauté pan and a rubber spatula over the stove. You can bake the toasts in a baking tray lined with baking paper. They are baked in the oven until golden and bubbling.

How to make cauliflower cheese toast?

Chop the cauliflower into teeny tiny pieces or do this in the food processor. In a sauté pan on low to medium heat add 1 tbsp butter, the cauliflower, minced garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and stir. Cook for 5-8 minutes until softened, take off the heat and let it cool down. In the mean time preheat the oven to 180 deg C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Shred all the cheese and set aside. Slice the baguette in half length wise and then cut each length into 3 parts hence you should have 6 pieces of bread. Now back to the cauliflower, add the remaining butter, yogurt, mustard, nutmeg, all the shredded cheese – leaving some of the parmesan aside for the top. Stir everything together until well combined. Place a slice of the gouda on each piece of bread, dollop the cauliflower mixture on top, finish with the remaining parmesan cheese and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden and the top is bubbling. Serve it hot.

Serving and storing this cauliflower cheese toast?

These toasts are best served hot and enjoyed while the cheese is melting, the bread is crusty and the filling is gooey. You can make the filling ahead of time and store it in air tight containers in the fridge once it has cooled down completely. This can keep for 3-5 days and you can make these toasts on repeat. Alternatively you can also store it in the freezer for 2 weeks. When ready to use allow it to thaw and then use as needed. Serve it with a green salad, grilled chicken or shrimps to make it a complete meal but I like cutting the toasts into smaller pieces and serving it as a hot appetizer.

Looking for more simple veggie snack recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this cauliflower cheese toast recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.