Cauliflower cheese with mashed potato
Tender cauliflower in a smooth cheese sauce, served with soft, buttery mashed potato. Both elements are cooked until very soft, so the meal needs little chewing.
Ingredients
- 1 small cauliflower (broken into small florets)
- 400 g floury potatoes (such as Maris Piper, peeled and cut into small chunks)
- 250 ml milk (full-fat or semi-skimmed)
- 80 g mature cheddar (grated)
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp butter
- salt (to taste)
Method
- 1Place the potato chunks in a saucepan, cover with cold water, add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Cook for 15 - 18 minutes until very tender.
- 2Meanwhile, steam or boil the cauliflower florets for 10 - 12 minutes until very soft and easily pierced with a fork. Drain well.
- 3In a small pan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over a low heat, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk to make a smooth sauce, stirring until it thickens, then remove from the heat and stir in the grated cheddar until melted.
- 4Drain the potatoes and mash well with the remaining butter and a splash of the sauce (or a little extra milk) until smooth and lump-free.
- 5Fold the cauliflower gently through the cheese sauce until coated. Serve alongside the mashed potato while warm.
Soft texture: Cook the cauliflower until it is very soft and keep the cheese sauce smooth. This meal may be easier to eat in the first few days after thyroid surgery, but recovery varies - follow your surgical team's advice.
Smoother still: For an even softer meal, mash the cauliflower into the sauce so there are no florets to chew.
Levothyroxine timing: This dish contains dairy, which is a source of calcium. If you take levothyroxine, calcium can affect how it is absorbed - follow your clinician's advice on timing.
Nutrition: Cheese and milk provide protein and calcium. These are food ideas only - speak to your clinical team if you have specific nutritional concerns.
Thyroid-aware, not thyroid-curing. These recipes are general ideas, not a treatment or a diet plan, and nothing here constitutes medical or dietary advice. If you have specific dietary needs, speak to your clinician or a registered dietitian.