Cauliflower Au Gratin is a delicious easy to make an alternative to Potatoes Au Gratin that you’ll love making when your craving a comfort food casserole. It combines Healthy Cauliflower, heavy cream, half and half cream, Swiss cheese, parmesan cheese, and smoky ham for an all-star casserole to serve your family.
Have you ever craved your favorite comfort foods yet, though? I think I’ll skip it due to excessive carbs and calories? I definitely have thought the same thing. It was better not to bother eating due to all the carbs and calories, hence how Cauliflower Au Gratin with Ham came to be.
That is exactly why I started going through old recipes, Y’all, to figure out ways to enjoy my favorite comfort food casseroles or something very similar. The Potatoes Au Gratin was one I decided I could do something reasonably minimal to achieve a delicious lower-calorie version of something I love so dearly by omitting the potatoes and substituting cauliflower.
Make no mistake. This isn’t a diet food of any sort. It still retains its rich, delicious, comforting flavors of heavy cream, half and half, as well as real butter and flour, so if you are watching your weight, don’t go overboard. However, enjoy a lower-calorie version to curb that craving for your favorite comfort food.
Update: Hey Y’all, this post is due for an update to the photos and blog post, be sure to stay tuned and see the New and Improved recipe and Images!
Cauliflower Au Gratin with Ham
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One large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
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Kosher salt
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1 cup of diced smoked ham
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Four tablespoons or (1/2 stick)of unsalted butter, divided
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Four tablespoons of all-purpose flour
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1/2 cup heavy cream
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3/4 cup of half and half
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1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
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1/8 teaspoon of grated nutmeg
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3/4 cup of grated Swiss cheese divided by 2
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1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan, divided x2
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One small thinly sliced onion, if desired
Interesting facts to ponder concerning Cauliflower
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For Cauliflower being such a highly modified plant, the vegetable cauliflower has a long history. The Cauliflower plant has initially been was grown in Asia and around the Mediterranean Sea.
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Cauliflower has been grown and enjoyed across Europe since the 1500s.
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The Cauliflower plant was introduced to France from Genoa, Italy, in the 16th century, and are featured in Olivier de Serres’ Théâtre de agriculture, as cauli-fiori as the Italians call it, which are still relatively rare in France; they hold an honorable place in the garden because of their delicacy.”
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Cauliflower was first cultivated in Margaretville in 1891 when William F. VanBenschoten planted a handful of seeds on his farm on a mountaintop overlooking the village. The vegetable thrived in the region, and Mr. VanBenschoten’s first crop found a ready market in New York City.
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Cauliflower is closely related to broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnips, rutabagas, and Brussels sprouts.
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Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable. It is called this because the flowers have four petals and resemble a Greek cross.
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Cruciferous vegetables are full of nutrients that may help prevent cancer
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Cauliflower is a flower that hasn’t fully developed yet
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Cauliflower leaves are edible, but they do have a more pungent taste than the florets
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China is the world’s leading producer of cauliflower
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California produces the most cauliflower –than any other state in the USA. Cauliflower is grown in the Salinas Valley of California, also known as the “Salad Bowl of the World.”
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Green cauliflower is produced when you cross cauliflower with broccoli.

Cauliflower Au Gratin with Ham
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower cut into florets
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup smoked ham diced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, or 1/2 stick , divided
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup half and half
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- ¾ cup grated Swiss cheese divided by 2
- ½ cup grated parmesan divided x2
- 1 onion small thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Steam the cauliflower florets in a large steamer for 2 to 4 minutes, drain
- While waiting, melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add in the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 1-2 minutes. Pour the heavy cream and half and half into the butter and flour mixture and stir until it comes to a low simmer, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Slowly add 3/4 of a cup of freshly grated swiss cheese, stirring constantly till completely melted. Remove the pan from the burner, add 1 teaspoon of salt, pepper, nutmeg, and ½ Parmesan cheese.
- Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Sprinkle with remaining ½ of Parmesan cheese, diced ham, and salt and pepper. Evenly distribute a layer of thinly sliced onions on top of the cauliflower, if desired. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top, is browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Notes
Although themccallumsshamrockpatch.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and how ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will themccallumsshamrockpatch.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from your reliance on nutritional information.
Nutrition
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17 Comments
Stacy
January 9, 2019 at 8:48 amI made this a week ago and the flavor was awesome. I really enjoyed sharing this with some co-workers the next day and they all love it too. I will be making this again and again.
hmccallum
January 9, 2019 at 8:50 amHi, there Stacy, glad to hear this! I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe. I am about to redo the images soon and make a few updates. Stay tuned.
Hugs
Heidy
Nicky
January 8, 2015 at 4:04 pmGreat comfort food recipe using ham and cauliflower. Pinning for later.
Judy
January 5, 2015 at 11:20 amThanks for sharing a great recipe for cauliflower. I can’t wait to try it out.
Heidy L. McCallum
January 5, 2015 at 11:56 amThanks for hosting Judy
Cristen
January 3, 2015 at 11:43 amWOW! This looks delicious! I’m making this for sure. I’ve got ham up to my ears! 🙂
Moore or Less Cooking Food Blog
January 2, 2015 at 6:12 pmLooks amazing! I have to try your cauliflower recipe! Nettie
Heidy L. McCallum
January 2, 2015 at 10:54 pmLet me know if you do ! Thanks for the compliment Nettie!
Hadia
January 2, 2015 at 9:58 amA festive cauliflower dish that is warm and bursting with flavor! Love it Heidy!
Angie Mc
January 2, 2015 at 1:33 amI love how you used a healthy veggie instead of potato! Your Cauliflower looks wonderful.
Heidy L. McCallum
January 2, 2015 at 1:42 amThanks Angie
Angie Mc
January 2, 2015 at 12:45 pmGladly, Heidy! Happy 2015 😀
Heidy L. McCallum
January 2, 2015 at 1:13 pmHappy New Year Angie! 🙂
Nicole Neverman
January 1, 2015 at 8:15 pmThis gratin sounds so super delicious! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our party next time!
Nicole
Heidy L. McCallum
January 1, 2015 at 9:01 pmThank you for co-hosting Nicole <3
Dan from Platter Talk
January 1, 2015 at 4:15 pmComforting and wonderful dish here, I love the use of cauliflower!
Heidy L. McCallum
January 1, 2015 at 5:11 pmThanks so much Dan!