Make the cheese sauce according to this recipe, blending in the additional garlic clove, the additional 1/2 teaspoon salt, the smoked paprika, and cayenne.

Preheat the oven broiler.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and boil the cauliflower florets for 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish and top with the panko. Broil for 2 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and serve with Parmesan or vegan Parmesan, if desired.