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Home » Recipes » Dinner

Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut Sauce

Published: Oct 19, 2017 · Modified: Nov 6, 2019 by Kate Hackworthy · 25 Comments

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Cauliflower with a roasted butternut squash cheeseless sauce. Creamy and tasty. A great side dish and ready in 30 minutes. #butternut #cauliflower #sidedishes

My Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut Sauce makes the traditional comfort food lighter and an easier way towards your five a day. Vegan.

A table with plates of cauliflower cheese.

 

I love comfort food at this time of year. When the days draw in and grow colder, I want to wrap up in a warm blanket and tuck into a dish of something warming.

But that doesn't mean that I want unhealthy food. I love finding ways to get more veg into a meal, so I used the natural creaminess of butternut squash to act as the 'cheese sauce' for this cauliflower cheese. Instead of butter and flour to thicken it, I slowly roasted the squash to bring out it's best sweet flavours, then pureed it with a few extra flavour goodies.

A dish of cauliflower cheese on a wooden table.

The result is a dreamy, creamy blanket atop my beloved cauliflower. It's a wonderful side dish or even on it's own. You'll be quickly on your way to getting your five-a-day - and I promise that you won't miss the cheese.

Close up of sauce on cauliflower.

This Butternut Squash Cheese Sauce is also really tasty on steamed broccoli. We also love serving it on parmentier potatoes. They're roasted cubed potatoes that are easy to make. 

A plate of food on a wooden table.

Get the recipe for Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut Sauce

If you make this recipe, please tag it with #veggiedesserts on Instagram or other social media. I LOVE seeing your recreations of my recipes.

📖 Recipe

A dish of cauliflower cheese on a wooden table.

Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut ‘Cheese’ Sauce

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
A thick and creamy 'cheese' sauce made with roasted butternut squash. This sauce is a great way to eat more veggies. 
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 203 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 small butternut squash peeled and deseeded (approx 500g)
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 clove garlic finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves optional, plus extra to garnish
  • 250 ml vegan milk (soy, almond, oat etc...)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 head cauliflower

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 220C/430F.
  • Cut the squash into small chunks, toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and spread out on the baking tray. Roast for 15 minutes or until soft.
  • Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a med/low heat and gently fry the onion until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for a further minute.
  • When the squash is cooked, add it to a blender or food processor, along with the onions and milk. Whiz until smooth and creamy, taste and season if necessary. If the sauce seems too thick, add a little extra vegan milk to thin.
  • Cut the cauliflower florets into large pieces, then steam over a pan of simmering water until cooked.
  • Pour desired amount of the sauce over the cauliflower and serve with thyme leaves to garnish.
  • Save any leftover sauce for another meal in the fridge or allow it to cool and freeze. This is a lovely side dish for a roast dinner or served alongside a hot salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 4gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 43mgPotassium: 862mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 20030IUVitamin C: 54.9mgCalcium: 173mgIron: 1.5mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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Comments

    5 from 6 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. nadalie bardowell

    November 23, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    This sounds absolutely tasty! I never liked cheese whiz on my broccoli I much preferred them plain. I think it would go very well with cauliflower though. I would love to make this but alter the ingredients to make it vegan friendly.

    Reply
  2. Dannii

    November 23, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    I love using butternut squash to make cheesy sauces and this looks delicious and comforting.

    Reply
  3. Moipone

    November 23, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    5 stars
    Wow interesting, could really liven up the dull cauliflower. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  4. jhilmil

    November 23, 2017 at 5:24 am

    That butternut sauce is killing me outrightly. It looks such a good option for dinner, shall definitely make it this weekend for my whole family. thanks for sharing

    Reply
  5. jhilmil

    November 23, 2017 at 5:24 am

    5 stars
    That butternut sauce is killing me outrightly. It looks such a crunchy option for dinner, shall definitely make it this weekend for my whole family.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      November 28, 2017 at 12:25 pm

      I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  6. Chandresh

    November 23, 2017 at 4:12 am

    5 stars
    We are always in search for good vegan receipe and this own looks tempting ... Worth try this festive season : ..

    Reply
  7. Evelyn @PathofPresence

    November 22, 2017 at 10:40 pm

    I never knew cauliflower can take pretty photos! The recipe sounds great & I learned about A2 milk. In all, excellent post! Off to ask the kids if they’d want it for Thanksgiving ????????????Thanks

    Reply
  8. Margaret Gallagher

    October 30, 2017 at 2:03 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious
    Family loved this yesterday
    Certainly will be making this again

    Reply
  9. Natasha

    October 26, 2017 at 4:01 am

    This looks amazing. I haven't made any dishes with cauliflower...I'd love to give this a try!

    Reply
  10. danasia fantastic

    October 23, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    This looks so good! I'm a huge fan of cauliflower, but find it bland at times.

    Reply
  11. Amy Dong

    October 23, 2017 at 3:45 am

    This looks like something I'd love to try this fall! I LOVE butternut squash and cauliflower, so I'm sure I'd adore both together.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      November 28, 2017 at 12:24 pm

      They are great together! Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  12. Aine

    October 20, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    That looks so good, perfect for a winter side dish!

    Reply
  13. Victoria

    October 20, 2017 at 4:08 am

    This looks so delicious, I am such a fan of cauliflower and this is just perfect

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      November 28, 2017 at 12:24 pm

      I love cauliflower as well. So versatile!

      Reply
  14. Deimarys

    October 20, 2017 at 2:32 am

    5 stars
    I have never EVER tasted cauliflower but this sauce makes me feel tempted! Verry easy to prep and healthy! Thanks for the printable

    Reply
  15. Rose

    October 20, 2017 at 1:12 am

    The dish is very pretty. I have been seeing a lot of butternut squash recipes but my knowledge of using them was very basic so I'm excited! I look forward to trying this sauce.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      November 28, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      I hope you like it! Let me know how it goes.

      Reply
  16. Ola

    October 19, 2017 at 4:59 pm

    Okay so I really need to try this recipe. I love making roasted cauliflower, but I need a new take on an old standby. This just might do the trick.

    Reply
  17. chefkreso

    October 19, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Roasted butter cheese looks lovely and I would absolutely top even broccoli with it, not just cauliflower!

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      November 28, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      Oh yes, it would be great on broccoli!

      Reply
  18. Dada

    October 19, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Omg look at that butternut sauce, soo silky! Being married to a Swiss I am sure he would ask me to sprinkle some Gruyere cheeze over it and let it grill in the oven for a couple of minutes!????

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      November 28, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      Ha, yes I bet he would! It is really silky - the butternut is great for that

      Reply
  19. Tasheena @ SimplyTasheena.com

    October 19, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    You did an amazing job with the dish. I can''t wait to try this recipe at home for my family.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. Here you'll find vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes celebrating vegetables, from dinner to dessert! If you love vegetables, you've come to the right place. About Me

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