Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin
Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin transforms the Roman cheese-and-pepper classic into a baked dish with tender cauliflower under a rich, peppery Pecorino and provolone sauce brightened by lemon. It’s savory, gently spicy from black pepper, and layered with nutty cheese notes. Serve as a cozy side for roast meats or as a vegetarian main with a crisp salad.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 44 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 12
- Heart Health
- 73
- Metabolic
- 25
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 45
- Performance
- 40
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Put the cauliflower florets into the prepared baking dish.
- 2
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with the garlic, pepper, and salt. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Gradually stir in the flour; cook and stir for 1 minute. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Gradually stir in the Pecorino and provolone cheeses until melted. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower in the baking dish.
- 3
Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with additional lemon zest and pepper.
- Calories 280.88 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 16.44 g Good Source 33%
- Carbohydrate 12.52 g 5%
- Total Fat 18.27 g High 23%
- Saturated Fat 11.19 g High 56%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 57.94 mg Moderate 19%
- Sodium 609.66 mg High 27%
- Dietary Fiber 3.04 g Moderate 11%
- Total Sugars 6.88 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 438.64 mg Good Source 34%
- Iron 0.53 mg Low Source 3%
- Potassium 286.6 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 123.69 mcg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin C 51.99 mg Good Source 58%
- Vitamin D 0.98 mcg Low Source 5%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin is made with 12 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Butter, Cauliflower, and Diced Onion. Each serving provides about 280.88 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Butter, Cauliflower, Diced Onion, Lemon Curd. The full list of 12 is above.
- How long does it take to make Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin?
- About 55 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 280.88 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 12 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin healthy?
- Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower Gratin has an easyChef Pro health score of 40/100. Per serving, it provides 280.88 calories and 16.44 g of protein, or 33% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 609.66 mg (27% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 11.19 g (56% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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