Description
Keto cauliflower au gratin elevates humble cauliflower into a luxurious side dish with rich cheese and creamy textures. Elegant French-inspired comfort beckons dieters to savor low-carb indulgence without sacrificing flavor or satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower (or 4 cups), cut into slices
- 2 cups gruyere cheese, shredded (or Swiss cheese)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 4 green onions, sliced
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to a moderate temperature and prepare a baking dish with a light spray of cooking oil to prevent sticking.
- Create the first layer of cauliflower slices across the bottom of the dish, ensuring even coverage and maintaining a uniform thickness.
- Generously distribute half of the Gruyere cheese over the initial cauliflower layer, spreading it evenly to guarantee consistent flavor in each bite.
- Sprinkle finely chopped green onions across the cheese layer to introduce a subtle, sharp note to the casserole.
- Season the layer with salt and freshly ground black pepper, carefully distributing the seasoning to enhance the overall taste profile.
- Construct a second layer of cauliflower slices directly atop the first, creating a substantial and hearty base for the dish.
- Slowly drizzle heavy cream over the entire casserole, ensuring complete and uniform coverage of the vegetable layers.
- Complete the dish by topping with the remaining Gruyere cheese, creating a rich and golden surface that will develop a crisp, appetizing crust during baking.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil and place in the preheated oven for the initial cooking phase, which helps to tenderize the cauliflower.
- Remove the foil during the final stage of baking to allow the cheese to transform into a beautifully golden and bubbling crust.
- Once fully cooked, remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest briefly, enabling the ingredients to set and the flavors to meld together before serving.
Notes
- Achieve creamy, golden perfection by allowing the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after baking, helping the sauce thicken and flavors meld together.
- Choose fresh, crisp cauliflower for the best texture and ensure slices are uniform to guarantee even cooking throughout the dish.
- Gruyere cheese provides a rich, nutty flavor that elevates this low-carb side dish from ordinary to extraordinary, making it a crowd-pleasing keto option.
- Covering with foil for the first 30 minutes prevents excessive browning while ensuring the cauliflower cooks thoroughly and becomes tender.
- Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create thin, consistent cauliflower slices that will cook evenly and absorb the creamy sauce beautifully.
- Opt for full-fat heavy cream to maintain the keto-friendly profile and create a luxuriously smooth, indulgent texture in this comforting casserole.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 120mg