Broccoli and cheese are the perfect flavour combination and this tasty bake is no exception. Broccoli Cheese is a fantastic variation of the traditional cauliflower cheese and it will have your family asking for seconds.
Broccoli cheese is an underrated delight
Everyone has heard of and probably eaten cauliflower cheese, but broccoli cheese isn’t as well known. I think we need to change that because it is a fantastic side dish.
Broccoli and cauliflower are both part of the brassica family along with brussels and cabbages. I think all varieties work well with dairy whether that is in the form of cheese in this cauliflower cheese, my parmesan roasted tenderstem broccoli; or with a touch of cream like in my creamed savoy cabbage.
It is always nice to have some variation with our meals so even if you are a die hard cauliflower cheese lover, give this broccoli version a try and you may love it just as much.
which broccoli is best to use?
Although I am a massive fan of tenderstem broccoli (broccolini), I wouldn’t tend to use it for broccoli cheese just for aesthetic purposes. There is absolutely no reason why you couldn’t though so feel free if you would like to do so.
I always prefer using fresh broccoli because I prefer the taste and I think it will provide you with the best results.
You can use frozen broccoli if this is what you have but make sure you don’t overcook it. You don’t want your broccoli to become mushy.
Also make sure you drain it and let is steam dry really thoroughly as frozen vegetables hold more water.
which cheese is recommended to use?
I like to use a mixture of cheeses when making broccoli cheese because they all add a different quality to the finished dish. The main thing to remember is to not be stingy with the cheese. This isn’t the recipe for going light with the cheese!
You can of course switch up the cheeses I have used and add others like Gruyere and red Leicester. Just don’t use cheese like feta and Wensleydale that don’t melt well at all.
extra mature cheddar
Extra mature is always my cheddar of choice I love the flavour and saltiness it has. You of course can use whichever cheddar you like.
I prefer to buy a block of cheese and grate it myself, but pre-grated cheese will work just as well in this recipe.
Reduced fat cheese doesn’t tend to melt as well as full fat cheese. You can by all means give it a go but make sure you add it more gradually into the cheese sauce to give it the best chance of melting.
Parmesan
Parmesan is a great way of adding another flavour to your broccoli cheese. It has a bold, salty and slightly nutty flavour that works really well in this recipe.
Again I buy Parmesan in a slice and grate it myself. I would recommend doing this is you can rather than buying the pre-grated Parmesan that looks powdery as a block of Parmesan is going to be better quality.
It is worth noting that Parmesan isn’t usually vegetarian because it contains animal rennet.
Mozzarella
I add mozzarella to my broccoli cheese more for it’s amazing melting capabilities than it’s favour. It is a very mild cheese which melts fantastically.
Mozzarella is a cheese I do buy pre-grated. It is sold in a few different forms and it is the pre-grated option you are looking for rather than the fresh balls or slices.
Making the perfect cheese sauce
This broccoli cheese relies heavily on a good Mornay sauce otherwise known as a bechamel with added cheese or simply as a cheese sauce.
Whatever you call it, it is important to get it right so the finished dish is absolutely delicious. It is simple enough to do, but there are a few key things to remember.
When you are making your roux by combining the flour and butter, let it cook out for a minute or two. This will help prevent a raw flour taste in your finished dish.
Be patient when adding your milk. Add a little at a time and only add more when the first is fully absorbed. If you get carried away and add too much milk at once you are likely to get lumps which is what no one wants in their cheese sauce.
When it comes to adding the cheese, add a small handful at a time and allow it to melt before adding more. This allows the cheese to melt more easily and reduce the risk of lumps.
I would recommend using a whisk when making a cheese sauce as it is another way to help reduce the likelihood of lumps.
making this broccoli cheese vegetarian or vegan
You might think that broccoli cheese is already vegetarian but that depends on whether you use Parmesan. As I mentioned above, traditional Parmesan isn’t vegetarian as it contains animal rennet.
Supermarkets usually sell ‘Italian hard cheese’ which is a vegetarian alternative. You shouldn’t have any issues finding a vegetarian option if you need one.
To make this broccoli cheese vegan you will need to make some changes to the cheese sauce. You will need to find dairy free alternatives to the butter, milk and cheese.
The butter and milk should be fairly straightforward swaps. When it comes to the cheese, use a couple of different cheeses similar to the ones I have used that will melt well.
Vegan cheese doesn’t have the best reputation for melting so you might need some trial and error to find you perfect cheese blend.
how to serve broccoli cheese
Broccoli cheese is a great accompaniment to all sorts of meals. The most obvious choice would be as part of a roast dinner. I have lots of recipes to give you some inspiration:
- Air Fryer Gammon Joint
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Air Fryer Whole Roast Chicken
- Festive Vegetarian Galettes
- Simple Roast Potatoes
- Creamed Savoy Cabbage
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Roasted Air Fryer Parsnips
- Air Fryer Chantenay Carrots
- Easy Sausage Meat Stuffing
But don’t just restrict yourself to serving broccoli cheese with a roast dinner. It makes a great side dish for any meat or fish that cheese compliments.
Other recipes you might like
- Air Fryer Parmesan Tenderstem Broccoli
- Easy Cheese & Broccoli Pasta
- Easy Broccoli Soup
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
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Broccoli Cheese
Broccoli and cheese are the perfect flavour combination and this tasty bake is no exception. Broccoli cheese is a fantastic variation of the traditional cauliflower cheese and it will have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
- 400 g broccoli one head
- 1 tsp table salt
- 80 g extra mature cheddar cheese grated
- 25 g Parmesan grated
- 25 g mozzarella grated
- 20 g butter
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 300 ml semi skimmed milk
- ¼ tsp mustard powder
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
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Prepare 400g broccoli (one head) by removing the stalk and cutting off the florets. Cut any large florets in half so that they are all a similar size
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Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add 1 tsp table salt before adding the prepared broccoli
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Cook the broccoli for 5-6 minutes until you can just insert a knife into the stem. You don't want the florets to be fully cooked at this point
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Drain the broccoli and allow to steam dry thoroughly
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Mix together 80g extra mature cheddar cheese, 25g Parmesan and 25g mozzarella and set aside
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Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan assisted, 200°C non fan assisted)
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In the pan you cooked the broccoli in, melt 20g butter over a low heat
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Once melted add 2 tbsp plain flour and stir until a paste forms. Cook for 2 minutes
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Gradually add 300ml of semi skimmed milk. Start by adding just a splash and stir until it is completely absorbed and only then add another splash. Don't be tempted to add a lot at a time
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Once you have added all of the milk, add in 3/4 of the cheese, a small handful at a time
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Stir until all of the cheese is melted and then add ¼ tsp mustard powder, ¼ tsp white pepper and 1 tsp sea salt. Stir well
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Add the broccoli to the cheese sauce and carefully stir making sure all of the broccoli is coated in the sauce
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Tip the broccoli into an oven proof dish
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Scatter over the reserved cheese
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Cook for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese on top is your desired shade of brown
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information is given as a guide only and may vary.
Chloe says
Loved this variation and the blend of cheeses worked perfectly!
Jess says
I’d never tried Broccoli Cheese until I made this recipe but I think I like it better than cauliflower. Thanks for the great recipe.
Lesley says
I love broccoli and added in some cauliflower too, this was a tasty cheesy sauce.
Sisley says
This went down so well! Everyone loved it. New family favourite