Description
This Cheesy Vegan Broccoli and Cauliflower Bechamel Bake is a rich, creamy, and comforting vegan casserole that features tender broccoli and cauliflower pieces coated in a luscious plant-based béchamel sauce with a cheesy flavor from nutritional yeast. Perfect as a main or a side, this versatile bake can be customized with various vegetables and vegan meats, making it a crowd-pleaser for up to 10 servings. The dish is oven-baked until a gorgeous golden crust forms, creating a delightful texture contrast that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Sausage
- 1.5 heads of cauliflower, cut into 2 cm pieces
- 1.5 heads of broccoli, cut into 2 cm pieces
- 1 pack of vegan sausages (e.g., Fry’s family smoked breakfast bangers or Linda McCartney’s sausages), chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
Vegan Béchamel Sauce
- 6 cups plant-based milk (such as soy, almond, or oat milk)
- 9 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 5–6 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ⅕ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt, to taste
- Pinch of white pepper
Additional
- Olive oil, for drizzling and greasing the dish
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Cut the cauliflower and broccoli into 2 cm pieces. Steam, boil, or microwave them until al dente—tender but still firm to the bite, avoiding mushiness.
- Sauté onions and sausage: Chop the yellow onion and sauté in a pan until translucent. Add the chopped vegan sausages and brown them together with the onions. Remove from heat.
- Combine ingredients for the bake: In a greased ovenproof dish, mix the steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and browned sausage and onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside while you prepare the sauce.
- Warm plant-based milk: Heat 6 cups of plant-based milk until warm but not boiling, then set aside.
- Make the vegan béchamel sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat 9 tablespoons of olive oil. Whisk in 6 tablespoons of flour and cook briefly to form a roux. Gradually stir in the warm plant-based milk, about one cup at a time, whisking continuously.
- Thicken and season the sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil to thicken, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring regularly until smooth and creamy. Add 5-6 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, salt, a pinch of white pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg. Adjust thickness as needed by adding more milk to thin or a prepared flour-milk slurry to thicken.
- Assemble the bake: Pour the prepared vegan béchamel sauce evenly over the vegetable and sausage mixture in the ovenproof dish. Drizzle a little olive oil on top.
- Bake the dish: Place the dish in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) and bake for 60 to 120 minutes, checking after 45 minutes for a golden crust. Bake until the top forms a golden-brown crust, which may take up to 2 hours depending on dish size and crust preference.
- Rest and serve: Remove the bake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Optionally serve alongside a plant-based seitan roast for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can substitute the cauliflower or broccoli with other vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots and peas, cubed potatoes and onions, green beans, lentils, or beans for variety.
- You may replace vegan sausages with other vegan meats like soya chicken, quorn pieces, or vegan beef strips, or omit meat altogether for a creamy vegetable side dish.
- Adjust the béchamel sauce thickness by adding more plant-based milk to thin or a milk-flour slurry to thicken as needed.
- Use olive oil to grease the ovenproof dish and to drizzle on top for extra richness and a golden finish.
- Check the crust formation starting at 45 minutes and bake until the desired golden crust develops—longer baking develops deeper flavor and crust.
- Allow the bake to rest briefly after removing from the oven for better slicing and serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 to 120 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan
Keywords: vegan broccoli cauliflower bake, vegan bechamel sauce, plant-based casserole, vegan sausage bake, nutritional yeast sauce, creamy vegan bake
