Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

This is a great side dish for getting more broccoli into your diet. The homemade cheese sauce is easy to make and great not just on broccoli, but cauliflower, nachos, or baked potatoes.
A Jerry James Stone Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb fresh broccoli
  • 1 tbsp sea salt, divided
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Jump to instructions
Yields 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Instructions

  • Create a roux by warming and melting the two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet and adding one tablespoon of flour. Whisk well until all of the flour is incorporated. If you like your sauce on the thicker side, use 2 tablespoons of flour.
  • Slowly add in 1 cup of milk. While whisking to combine, bring the mixture to a low simmer over a medium heat. Do not boil. Once it is simmering, cook for 2 minutes.
  • Why the mixture is coming up to a simmer, bring a sauce pot filled with water to a boil. Add the sea salt, minus a pinch or two.
  • Add the broccoli and cook for 1 minute, just until it turns a brighter green. It will be on the crunchy side, cook for 2 minutes longer for a more tender broccoli.
  • Once the broccoli is cooked as desired, transfer it to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Let rest for a few minutes but do not chill the broccoli for too long. You just want to stop it from cooking.
  • After the milk mixture has cooked for 2 minutes, remove from heat. Add in the cheddar cheese, ¼ cup at a time, stir until fully melted and incorporated, then repeat. Do until all cheese is mixed in. Do not do this step over any heat as the sauce can break.
  • Salt the sauce with the pinch of salt if needed.
  • Pour the sauce over the broccoli and serve. Enjoy!