Baking · serves 2

Broccoli Cheese Bake

One dish, thirty-five minutes, and children eat the broccoli.

40 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 heads broccoli, florets
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp maida
  • 2.5 cups milk
  • 2.5 cups grated cheese
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • Nutmeg, black pepper

Method

  1. Blanch the broccoli 3 minutes only, then into cold water. It cooks again in the oven and overcooked broccoli turns grey and sulphurous.
  2. Sauce: butter, then maida cooked 2 minutes, then milk added slowly while whisking until it coats a spoon.
  3. OFF the heat, stir in two-thirds of the cheese with mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cheese added on heat goes stringy.
  4. Drained broccoli in a dish, sauce poured over.
  5. Rest of the cheese and the breadcrumbs on top.
  6. 200°C for 20 minutes until browned and bubbling.

Questions people ask about Broccoli Cheese Bake

How long does Broccoli Cheese Bake take?

About 40 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

What can I use instead of cheese in Broccoli Cheese Bake?

Use any hard cheese that melts. Processed cheese melts smoothest, aged cheese tastes better.

Can I make Broccoli Cheese Bake ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Broccoli Cheese Bake vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Broccoli Cheese Bake?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Broccoli Cheese Bake?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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