Cauliflower and Broccoli Cheese Bake

INGREDIENTS  

• 2 cloves of garlic
• ⅓ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup plain flour
• 2 cups skim milk
• 1 lb. fresh or frozen broccoli
• ⅓ cup mature cheddar cheese
• 2 lbs. cauliflower
• 2 slices of stale bread
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
• ⅛ cup almonds
• olive oil

DIRECTIONS  

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Peel and finely slice the garlic and put it into a medium pan on a medium heat with the butter. When the butter has melted, stir in the flour for a minute to make a paste, then gradually add the milk, whisking as you go, until smooth. 
3. Add the broccoli (cut up first, if using fresh) and simmer for around 20 minutes, or until the broccoli is cooked through and starts to break down, then mash or blitz with a stick blender (adding an extra splash of milk to loosen, if using fresh broccoli). 
4. Grate in half the Cheddar and season to perfection.
5. Arrange the cauliflower in an baking dish (cut into florets first, if using fresh), pour over the broccoli white sauce and grate over the remaining Cheddar. Blitz the bread into breadcrumbs in a food processor, then pulse in the thyme leaves and almonds. Toss with a olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, then scatter evenly over the cauliflower cheese. 
6. Bake for 1 hour.

Recipe Author: Jamie Oliver