Cheese is something that my kids love in parts and sometimes they don’t like it at all. In an endeavor to provide more plant - based food to the family (both vegan and Gf), I don’t push them to eat cheese or paneer.
Personally I have pizza - the only dish that I like cheese in - probably once or twice a year.
But some dishes - like today - are dipped and drowned in a smooth, velvety cheesy sauce that makes winters worth it 🙂 it’s a late November night as I sit and type this, but we haven’t had a single day yet that we can call winter.
Yet the comfort that a good veg cheesy casserole provides is all that it takes for a weeknight dinner to transform the dinner table to a magical place.
Let’s get cheesy tonight and indulge in some good old casserole.
Veg cheesy casserole - served along with rich tomato soup. Perhaps a salad and some Bread could also a great accompaniment.
Prep time - 20 Mins , bake time - 35-40 Mins ; serves :2~3
Here 1 cup = 200 ml
Ingredients :
Base—
Chopped veggies - ⅔ cup (I used a mix of carrot, French beans, peas and cauliflower)
Olive oil - 2 tsp
One boiled potato - peeled and mashed slightly
Onion - 1 medium
Garlic - 1 pod , finely minced
Red chilli flakes - ¼ tsp
Italian seasoning - ½ tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Wholewheat Bechamel sauce -
Butter - 1 tsp
Oil - ½ tsp
Grated cheese - ⅓ cup
Wholewheat atta - 2 heaped tablespoons (maida can be used too)
Milk -½ cup+ 2 tsp
Grated nutmeg -⅛ tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Topping—
Grated cheese ⅓ cup - I used a mix of sharp cheddar and mozzarella and it worked, go with what you feel would work for you
Method:
Stage 1 -
Grease a 8x4 baking / loaf pan and line if required. I just greased it well.
In a pan, heat oil, add onions and garlic sauté well. Add chopped vegetables except the potato and half the salt. Without adding any additional water , stir well and cook them till they are 70% cooked and still have a bite to them. cool. Add the seasonings to and mix. Taste and adjust spice , do NOT add additional salt and keep it undersalted for the cheese will give it saltiness.
Stage 2 -
In another sauce pan, heat butter and oil. Once it heats, add the wholewheat flour and on a very low flame, roast the flour till it leaves out a wonderful nutty aroma. Take off the flame, cool for a min and add in the milk and quickly whisk it to avoid any lumps. Keep whisking off the flame till you reach a beautiful smooth and silky consistency adding more milk if necessary ; now return the sauce to the flame. Add cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg powder and whisk for 2-3 more mins . Cool to room temperature - this sauce thickens heavily upon cooling.
Keep in mind the cheese will be quite salty so add salt at each stage accordingly
Stage 3 —
Preheat oven to 175C.
In the greased baking pan, add the sautéed vegetables and the sauce in alternate layers. Top with mashed potatoes. Adjust spice and salt if required. Top with grated cheese and bake for 25 mins at 175, then turn the heat to 190 and bake for 7-8 mins keeping an eye that the cheese doesn’t burn. Tent the pan if required .
Once you get a slightly hard crusty top that’s typical of a cheese casserole, you may turn off .mine was done in 32 minutes.
Give it a standing time of 10-12 mins outside on a wire rack, and serve as required
Gayathri Kumar says
This type of cheese filled casserole is our fav. With so much of veggies, this one would make a delicious filling meal.
Varada's Kitchen says
Very interesting recipe. I have always preferred savory bakes to sweet ones. So many variations.
Priya Suresh says
Anything with cheese is our family favourite, wonderful way to sneak veggies this way. Quite a winter warmer too.. Lovely casserole.
Srivalli says
We love cheese too and in this form it is surely sinful. What an inviting meal.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Cheese loaded casserole is a quiet inviting and filling meal,looks yummy.
Rafeeda AR says
The casserole looks just like a treat... so cheesy, so gooey and with all that vege goodness... what a dish!
vaishali sabnani says
Yes with winter setting in this cheesy casserole will feature on our dinner table quite often. Sounds delicious.
Pavani says
What a cheesy, veggie packed casserole that is Kalyani. Love your wholewheat bechamel. Sounds healthy and delicious.
Swati says
Low Cal cheese Casserole, loaded with veggie... perfect one bowl treat for the whole family!! Yummm...
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
I m so hungry looking at your plate kalyani!! wish i could grab it from the picture!!! Perfect for the weather here!!!! Looks delish!!!!
Unknown says
Yum!! Cheese is my son's favourite too. It's totally healthy.
cookwithrenu says
I have shortlisted one of a veggie bake. Is it not a very good way to feed your kids vegetable and cheese. Dish looks very inviting.
Pavani says
Cheese Casserole looks absolutely yum yum , my kids love anything with cheese.So good idea for me to feed veggies in this way. Thanks for sharing.
Sharmila kingsly says
Cheesy casserole loaded with veggies, sureshot a winner..
veena says
My daughter loves cheese and she would love this dish. Bookmarked for her
Unknown says
Even I don't use too much of cheese, but seriously this cheesy casserole is tempting me. I think, I should give it a try. My daughter will be very happy to see so much cheese ????
Suma Gandlur says
I am not a fan of cheese either but others in my family enjoy it in all forms, especially my daughter. This casserole seems like a dish made for her.
Chef Mireille says
as far as I'm concerned cheese makes all the problems disappear and I would love this casserole!
Archana says
Yummy cheese caserole. We will love this cheesy bake not so the girls:(
Padmajha says
My kids never say no to cheese so this is definitely something they would love to eat!