roasted broccoli and cauliflower with cheese

Name: roasted broccoli and cauliflower with cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 5 cups
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 5 cups broccoli florets; 5 cups cauliflower florets; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper; generous pinch each nutmeg and cayenne; ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese, about 1 ounce; ¼ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Jump To Recipe November 26, 2018 // 9 Comments »

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I’m going to let you in on a secret right from the get-go: The key to making roasted broccoli and cauliflower with cheese is to line a sheet pan with foil first. That helps catch any melted cheese that drips off the veggies and make clean up much easier. I have that and more tips today for this brand new veggie side dish recipe.

This may be an oversimplification, but when it comes to preparing veggies for a simple side dish, I usually rely on one of three rules that always seem to work:

One: When in doubt, roast them!

Two: Cheese is never a bad idea!

And Three: Garlic makes the world go round.

Today in this roasted broccoli and cauliflower with cheese recipe I have employed not one but two of these tried and true veggie side dish rules and the results are amazingly delicious.

In the past I have shared roasted broccoli and roasted cauliflower recipes, but I have never shared one here where they were roasted together. So I figured, why not! Then I added on two kinds of cheese and I think from now on the rest will be history!

Combining Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccoli and Cauliflower are related, they are both members of the brassica family of plants which means they are cruciferous. Other members of this family are cabbage and kale.

These vegetables are high in antioxidants and vitamins, and may help to prevent cancer.

Both vegetables are crisp when raw, and have a balance of sweet and peppery mustard flavor.

When cauliflower or broccoli are over cooked they can taste sulfurous.

Broccoli and cauliflower cook at roughly the same rate which means they go great in recipes together.

I love to add them to a casserole or macaroni and cheese, but this simple preparation of roasting them together is even easier!

Just keep in mind they need to be cut into florets that are roughly the same size.

How to Make Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Cheese

Use a hot oven, 450 degrees is good, to roast broccoli and cauliflower. It will allow it to soften just enough without becoming flabby, and will also brown a bit which gives the broccoli a slightly nutty taste.

Line your sheet-pan with foil or if you have one a silicone baking mat. That will catch the melted cheese so the clean up will be much easier.

Toss the broccoli and cauliflower florets with oil, salt and pepper. And I also liked to add in a generous pinch each of ground nutmeg and cayenne pepper. They go well with the cheese! You can also add in some garlic powder too (see above rules.)

Spread the veggies out into a single layer. You don’t want to overcrowd your sheet pan so the veggies will be able to brown a bit.

Once they have softened and browned, then you can add on your cheese! Yay cheese! I used a combo of Vermont Sharp white cheddar and grated Parmesan cheese. Let that melt for about 3 minutes, then you are good to go. Your taste buds will be so happy!

Want more ideas for cauliflower? Don’t miss this Ultimate Guide to Cauliflower!