Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Cauliflower Gratin Recipe

3.36 from 14 votes

This easy vegetable dish makes a special hot lunch or a dinner side. Good-for-you cauliflower provides healthy nutrients and a firm bite.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time55 mins

Course: Main Course

Servings:

Calories: 187kcal

Author: Staff

6-7 cups water
1 large cauliflower
2-3 tablespoons butter or margarine of choice
3 tablespoons brown rice flour or gluten-free flour blend of choice
1 (14-ounce) can lite coconut milk
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or your favorite spices
1 medium red or green pepper , chopped into ¼-inch pieces
¾ cup shelled , roasted sunflower seeds or chopped nuts, if tolerated, optional
1 cup reduced-fat grated Parmesan cheese or dairy-free cheese alternative , optional
¼ cup fresh parsley , chopped for garnish, optional

Bring 6 to 7 cups water to a boil in large pot.
Meanwhile, wash cauliflower. Cut out core and discard.
Break cauliflower into florets about 2 inches in diameter and toss into boiling water. Water should just cover florets. (To break large florets into smaller ones, cut through stems at bottom and break upward into smaller pieces.)
Bring back to a boil. Then turn heat down to medium and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Florets should remain firm, so don’t over-cook.
Drain water and set cauliflower aside to cool.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or oil a baking dish.
To make sauce, melt butter in a saucepan on low heat. Add flour and stir until combined well. Pour in coconut milk and raise heat to medium/high, stirring constantly until well combined. Add salt, pepper and Italian seasonings and simmer on low heat, 6 to 8 minutes until sauce thickens. Set aside.
Arrange florets with stem sides down in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle chopped peppers and seeds or nuts, if desired, over florets.
Spoon sauce over top, moving florets if necessary to allow sauce to seep around and down into dish. Let rest 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with cheese or Bread Crumb Topping, if desired.
Place in preheated oven and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. Cover if cheese darkens too quickly.
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or dill.