Nostalgia drove me to make a keto pasta!
If you were an Indian kid growing up in the 80s, you ate the usual – dal, rice, roti, sabzi. Not me, though. As a card-carrying member of the Sindhi diaspora displaced during the Partition of India, my family’s childhood menu was eclectic, to say the least. Ham sandwiches, tuna salad, roast chicken and macaroni and cheese were my staples, alongside a mix of Indian cuisine. We called mac and cheese ‘Cheese Macaroni’ and obviously it was one of our favourites growing up, because which kid doesn’t love cheese? So reinventing it by making a keto cauliflower cheese brought back all those memories I had of eating the dish when I was growing up. The key spice in this recipe is freshly ground nutmeg. Nostalgia alert!
Making a cauliflower mac and cheese
Like in most keto recipes, it’s cauliflower to the rescue. Be it as a substitute pizza base or, in this case, the macaroni, cauliflower provides the perfect vehicle for the cheesy goodness of that sauce. Originally, for a mac and cheese, you’d use a béchamel sauce, with a flour roux. But, in this case it’s just butter, cream, cheese and spices all melded together. It’s pretty simple – just pour it over the cauliflower, add your choice of meats or veggies, add more cheese and then in it goes in the oven to bake.
This cauliflower bake is a blank canvas for you to paint on, because you can throw in a variety of veggies, ranging from mushrooms to broccoli. Likewise, with the meats, replace the ham with bacon, shredded chicken, pulled pork, breakfast sausage or any meat treat you like.
Growing up, what did your mother add in her mac and cheese? Let me know in the comments below.
Looking for more low-carb pasta recipes? How about a zucchini alfredo fettuccine? Or a pesto pappardelle?
Cheers & Keep Cooking!
Nutrition Info (Per serving)
- Calories: 481
- Net Carbs: 9g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fat: 43g
- Protein: 17g
- Fiber: 3g
This recipe makes 4 servings. Get this recipe on myfitnesspal.
- 500 Grams Cauliflower
- 100 Grams Ham (Chopped)
- 1 Small Onion
- 1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Flakes
- 300 Ml Heavy Cream
- 150 Grams Cheddar Cheese
- 50 Grams Salted Butter Try this one
- 1 Tsp Garlic Butter
- 1/2 Chicken Stock Cube
- 25 Grams Pine Nuts I recommend these
- 1 Tsp Fresh Thyme
- 1/2 Tsp Nutmeg grated
- 1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper I recommend this one
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder I recommend this one
- Chop and sweat the onions in a pan with the garlic butter.
- Add in the chopped ham and chilly flakes.
- Sauté for a few minutes and set aside.
- Cut the cauliflower florets off the stalks, season with salt and microwave for 5 minutes.
- Melt 50 grams of butter in a saucepan and add in the garlic powder, cayenne, pepper, nutmeg, fresh thyme and stock cube
- Once the butter has melted and everything is well mixed in, add the cream and mix vigorously together.
- Add in 100 grams of your favourite cheese and cook till fully melted into the sauce.
- Finish the sauce with fresh pepper.
- Mix together the cauliflower, ham and onions and cheese sauce in a bowl.
- Put the mixture into casserole and top with crushed pine nuts and the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes in the oven at 200C (390F) and then broil for 2 minutes
- Serve!
Try a mix of sharp cheeses to really bump up the flavour.
55 Comments
S
December 10, 2017 at 3:01 amThis was delish ?thanks for the recipe
Sahil Makhija
December 12, 2017 at 3:59 amGlad you liked it. 🙂
John A Woodson SR
October 11, 2018 at 12:08 amBest mac and cheese I have had. It is now a staple for leftover for lunch around here. Thank you for your time and efforts to help me make food taste delicious.
Sneha
February 21, 2019 at 4:56 amHiiii I tried this dish today for two..was awesome and I used half the butter and olive oil. Was very tasty. My husband who’s not on keto he also had this dish for dinner ?
Beth
May 29, 2021 at 11:11 amHi there, do you just microwave the cauliflower without water?
Sahil Makhija
May 30, 2021 at 3:21 amyes, it has enough water content in the vegetable.
Amy V.
December 27, 2017 at 3:11 amMy cheese sauce was pretty runny, any idea why that would be? The flavor was excellent!
Sahil Makhija
December 27, 2017 at 7:50 amhey that seems to be a common case with folks in the USA as the cream seems to be much thinner there, what you can do is add double the amount of cheese or just reduce the sauce on the stove till it becomes thicker because using it. A third option is using Xanthan Gum to thicken it. Hope that helps.
Shannon lewis
April 24, 2018 at 5:32 pmWill using cream cheese make it thicker? If so how much?
Sahil Makhija
April 25, 2018 at 4:20 amYou can just reduce the cream on the stove.
Nancy Price
October 28, 2018 at 8:30 pmYou might want to reduce the cream separately (to achieve a thicker cream such as is used in the recipe)
Radha Sreedhar
January 11, 2018 at 1:21 amLove the way you give veggie version possibilities when you cook non veg dishes!! this is my lunch today!
Mini
January 23, 2018 at 3:32 pmThis looks amazing!! I’m trying it for sure!
Mommy
January 27, 2018 at 12:07 amLove it! My family loves it, added xanthan gum to thicken1b tf sauce and topped with pork rinds and parm
Cynthia
October 29, 2018 at 1:36 amThanks for the great tip. After adding the cheese, I added Xanthan Gum 1/2 tsp which tightened up the sauce perfectly. It was delicious!
mickey
February 10, 2018 at 3:27 pmOMGosh! Made this last night for guests as a side dish with ribs. I subbed bacon for the ham. Everyone loved it! TY!
Sahil Makhija
February 11, 2018 at 4:00 amGlad to hear that.
Faryal Shuja
February 18, 2018 at 9:02 amHey! I would love to try this recipe but I’m a vegetarian. If I leave out the bacon/ham, how do I calculate the new macros?
Sahil Makhija
February 19, 2018 at 5:51 amJust input whatever you use in MFP and make your own recipe.
Bernadette Sneed
October 11, 2018 at 8:47 pmYes I used mushroom and spinach it was good thx my fav Keto dish
sindhura
February 19, 2018 at 7:05 amCan you please tell me which is BROIL option?
Sahil Makhija
February 19, 2018 at 7:24 amBroil means only the upper coil.
Nadine
February 24, 2018 at 6:59 pmCould I use cooked chicken instead of ham?
Nadine
February 25, 2018 at 1:55 pmactually nevermind, I just read in the article that I could >> sorry
Sahil Makhija
February 26, 2018 at 9:45 amAbsolutely!
Stella
February 27, 2018 at 7:16 pmHi! Thank you for all the great recipes! I have tried a few and they were all delicious ! I would like to ask about this recipe, in the video you mention adding cheddar and mix italian cheese in the sauce but in the writen version you mention only cheddar! Also in the ingredients it says 150 gr of cheddar cheese but in the instructions it says 100! Could you clarify please? Thank you!
Kristen
April 29, 2019 at 9:48 amHi Stella, 100g cheese goes in with the cream mixture at step 7, then the remaining 50g is sprinkled on top in step 10 before baking.
Debra
March 24, 2018 at 6:29 pmUSA here and I wish I had read the comments first because mine turned out funny as well, though it was delicious. Next time, more cheese and Xanthum gum! Love the video for this. Thanks for the recipe!
Sahil Makhija
March 25, 2018 at 12:33 pmWell if it turned out funny at least you got a good laugh out of it 😀
Katie
April 13, 2018 at 10:20 pmOMGOMGOMG. Making it right now. Using bacon instead of ham. Added broccoli. Using a mixture of parm and sharp cheddar. I’ll let ya know how it turned out!!!
Shibu Mammen
April 24, 2018 at 9:24 amCan I do it in a Microwave oven ?
Sahil Makhija
April 25, 2018 at 4:22 amSure but the cheese won’t brown on the top. It will just melt.
Amy Young
July 3, 2018 at 4:47 pmDelicious and filling! Will adjust cheese and reduce sauce on the stove for a bit longer next time. Yum!
Tico
September 8, 2018 at 3:04 amGreat recipe, Sahil. Love all your recipes and videos. Like some other Americans, my Mac and cheese came out a little runny. I added one spoon of coconut flour, thickened right up. It was delicious. You’re the best. Keep up the good work. You’re an inspiration. I’ve lost 40 pounds on keto in the last 6 months, thanks in large part to your recipes and videos.
Felise
September 14, 2018 at 7:59 pmMost of the time runny cauliflower mac n cheese, is due to not getting all of the water out of the cauliflower. You must drain it well and squeeze with a cheese cloth or paper towels until most of water is out before adding to other ingredients.
Rachma
September 17, 2018 at 5:33 amthank you share your recipe
Cheryl JD
November 27, 2018 at 1:06 amThis was wonderful..about to make it again. Will at some diced chilis to it. Thanks so much!
Greg from Canada
December 10, 2018 at 12:41 amMy wife and I just started Keto this week. This is the 3rd HBK recipe we have tried. And each one is better than the last. My wife says this is the best mac & cheese sauce she has ever had-layers of flavor. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. You rock, Sahil!!!
Maryan
January 19, 2019 at 8:28 amI tried your recipe it was so amazing . I loved it! Thank you looking forward for more 🙂
Gina
February 16, 2019 at 8:09 pmI just got done making this, and it was so so so delicious! I love mac & cheese (well, anything with pasta), and have been really missing it since starting Keto Your recipe did the trick for me. This is actually the best tasting mac & cheese I have ever had. I am making this later this evening and bringing it to my starving daughter and her starving college roommates. Thank you so much!
Brad Mac and Cheese
February 24, 2019 at 7:33 amBrilliant recipe, was very delicious. I took out the ham and added zucchini and mushroom
Fouzia
March 4, 2019 at 10:32 amMy son absolutely loves this recipe 10/10. I always have to make an extra batch as he can’t get enough of it & takes it to school for lunch. I make it with real pasta & replace the ham with mushrooms.
Wanda
April 21, 2019 at 6:48 amHello<
This recipe is so Good and easy to make.
You and Your recipes are keeping me excited to eat Keto !
Thank You !
Adriana Gutierrez
July 25, 2019 at 4:19 amIs that an onion? It looks like a shallot in the video? And tiny compared to US onions. Is it about 2 tbsp?
Sahil Makhija
July 25, 2019 at 11:17 amIt’s an indian red onion. It’s tiny compared to those giant white onions available elsewhere
Lu2019
September 11, 2019 at 5:05 pmHi Sahil, thanks for this recipe.
I’m a cooking amateur, on another users comment you gave suggestion about the runny cheese. Can you lay out the steps as to what I should be doing so its a thicker consistency?
Sahil Makhija
September 12, 2019 at 5:16 pmReduce the sauce on the stove top. You can also microwave/boil the cauliflower and squeeze the water out.
jennifer
September 18, 2019 at 4:40 pmHi,
could I use plain Greek yogart instead of the cream? ( FAGE yogart)
Sahil Makhija
September 19, 2019 at 2:26 amYou could use it. I never have though.
Bonnie
December 10, 2019 at 5:42 pmOh my gosh, delicious, satisfying, and very filling! I can’t find cheddar cheese here in Italy, so I used a bufala (buffalo milk) mozzarella and it is perfecto. Rich, creamy, and spicy. If I can find cheddar, I will try that as well, but very pleased with this recipe. . My sister loved it too. Great recipe. Grazie Mille.
Marzy
January 5, 2020 at 9:04 pmDelicious!!!!!!!! I did no have any ham so I added a belle pepper.
Melissa
February 12, 2020 at 1:38 amThis is delicious. I no longer get to choose what I am bringing to family gatherings, as they always want this, every time. I make extra to have at home, because there won’t be any leftovers. Thanks for all your great recipes!
Shanell
July 31, 2020 at 9:35 pmI know it’s an old post but I made this recipe from the YouTube video and didn’t read the comments first. I subbed chicken for ham and I’m sitting here eating this as it it were the best chicken broccoli soup alternative I’ve ever had. The flavor is amazing! Next time I’ll cut the cream and add cream cheese. Thank you so much.
Elaine
November 27, 2020 at 12:19 amJust made this (minus the ham) as a Thanksgiving side dish. It was absolutely delicious! Will probably add cream cheese (or sour cream?) next time. Thank you, Sahil!
Ava
April 11, 2021 at 11:52 amCame out awesome!