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Sausage + Cauliflower Cheddar Melt

Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Super Fast
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Big Kids Plate
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Why we love it:

This is a bit of a riff on one of Smitten Kitchen’s ideas but I’ve changed the recipe so much it might only be me who recognizes it. I love this for a cold, lazy night, when you want something satisfying but easy. I would definitely microwave some tomato soup if I had some at hand; or save these toasts for the next time you make soup.
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Ingredients

  • 6 ounces Chicken Sausage (chicken apple is great - crumbled or sliced, more or less)
  • 3 cups Frozen Cauliflower Florets (see Culinary Skills to use fresh)
  • Crusty Bread (4 thick, or use 8 slices of thinner bread)
  • 3 Tablespoons Whole Grain Mustard (or dijon)
  • 1 teaspoon Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Mayonnaise
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon Dried Chives
  • 12 ounces Cheddar Cheese (sliced or grated)
  • 4 cups Spring Mix Salad Greens

Cooking Instructions

  • 1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 425 DEGREES

    Place a rack near the top.

  • 2. CAULIFLOWER

    Scatter cauliflower florets on a baking sheet and place it in the oven while you prep the rest.

  • 3. SAUSAGE

    Sauté the sausage in a small pan until golden brown. You can use either the soft, crumbly kind or the cooked slice-able kind. If you use the sliceable kind, you can actually skip this sauté step if you don’t mind having less caramelization on each piece.

  • 4. TOAST

    Slice bread into 1-1.5” thick slices. Toast.

  • 5. MUSTARD

    In a small bowl, whisk together: 3 Tablespoons whole grain mustard, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon mayo, ½ teaspoon dried chives.

    Smear the sauce evenly on top of all of the toasts.

  • 6. ASSEMBLE

    Remove the cauliflower from the oven and if needed, chop it up a bit so it will lie flat on the bread. Nestle in the sausage. Divide among toasts and sprinkle with a pinch of salt each.

    Top with cheese, sliced or grated and don’t be shy.

  • 7. BROIL

    Move into the top rack in the oven and bake for about 5 - 7 minutes until everything is hot and the cheese is melted and golden brown. If the cheese isn’t roasting enough, switch the oven to broil and keep an eye on it.

  • 8. SERVING

    Serve melts with a side salad and some fruit.

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Substitutions

  • GLUTEN FREE:
    use GF bread
  • SAUSAGE:
    any kind you like really - or try bacon
  • CAULIFLOWER:
    try broccoli or sweet potato cubes or mushrooms, or frozen chopped spinach
  • CHEDDAR:
    anything that melts will work perfectly
  • MAYO:
    omit if you dislike it but it will hide here
  • DRIED CHIVES:
    if you don’t have them just sub in ¼ teaspoon of onion powder

Kid Friendly Version

Big Kids Plate
Toddler Plate

How to Tweak This Recipe for Kids:

  • Make their melt without the full honey mustard sauce, or use smooth dijon and no dried chives
  • Melt cheese on top but swap out for part mozzarella. Serve sausage on toothpicks
  • Serve with diced raw veggies or fruit

For Toddlers

  • Chop the cauliflower up finely
  • Make it an avocado toast or hummus or peanut butter toast
  • Serve with a few cubes of cheese on the side and fruit
  • Depending on your kid and their age, you may or may not want to add a little sausage

For Choosy Eaters

  • Make it a broiled grilled cheese; just cheese and bread
  • Offer some roasted cauliflower on the side, and maybe offer the honey mustard spread as a dip to taste
  • Serve sausage on toothpicks
  • Serve with fruit, raw veggies, and perhaps some yogurt or hummus

Prep Ahead & Use It Up

  1. Mix the mustard sauce which will last for weeks in the fridge
  2. Grate or slice the cheese if need
  3. Leftovers can be reheated but they are really best straight out of the oven

Culinary Skills

If you have a head of cauliflower you’d rather use, simply chop it up and roast it with olive oil or butter and a pinch of salt. When it’s done, proceed with the recipe. Or use this recipe to reinvent leftover cauliflower.

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