Nobody can resist this Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan! It’s as irresistible as fries baked in a hot oven until golden and crispy.
Want to make eating your veggies easier? This parmesan roasted cauliflower is so irresistible, you’ll be inhaling bites on the baking sheet before you even sit down to serve it. Granted, adding cheese to veggies is an age-old trick to make them tastier. But this recipe has roast meat Cauliflower: Cooked over high heat, the vegetable crumbles into a sweet, caramelized version of itself. Add crunchy Parmesan cheese and Italian spices, and it’s a sophisticated, restaurant-style take on the concept behind cheesy broccoli. Hell, we think it’s even better than fries.
Also try: Perfect Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients for Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan
There is a short list of ingredients for Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan! All you need is a few basics and about 40 minutes to make this recipe. Here’s what you need:
- 2 pounds of cauliflower The size of the cauliflower heads can vary greatly between small, medium and large. Find a medium-sized cauliflower and weigh it at the store.
- olive oil
- garlic powder
- oregano
- Grated parmesan cheese You’ll want the kind that looks like tiny sticks: not the powdered version of the shaker can: it’s crushed!
The Secrets of Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan
There are many recipes for roasted cauliflower with parmesan: what makes this one special? Some things:
- Use very high heat: 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t be fooled by recipes that call for roasting cauliflower at 350°C. Roasting at high heat makes cauliflower tender and golden: that Maillard reaction where food browns and caramelizes on contact with high heat! Low heat doesn’t get the right flavor and texture.
- Add the parmesan in the last 10 minutes. That way it won’t be too golden, but still perfectly crispy.
- It’s seasoned to perfection. Some cauliflowers roasted with Parmesan do not list the amount of salt. It is important that it is perfectly salted, otherwise it will taste strangely bland.
Tips for cutting cauliflower
The place where most home cooks have a problem with cauliflower: chopping! It can be difficult to cut florets without making a huge mess in your kitchen. For this Roasted Cauliflower Parmesan, use our simplified method of slicing this veg! See How to Cut Cauliflower or the video below.
- Remove leaves: Remove large leaves from the base of the cauliflower, exposing the stalk; discard the leaves.
- Cut around the stem: Using a paring knife, cut around the cauliflower stalk.
- Cut into florets: Divide the cauliflower into large florets with your fingers. Remove any large stems and cut the cauliflower into smaller florets as directed in the recipe.
Ways to serve roasted cauliflower with parmesan
This Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan is a treat. We serve it as a late night snack as well as a light side dish… but that’s just us! Here are some ideas on how to eat it:
- grain bowl. Add a whole grain, chickpeas or kidney beans, and a few raw veggies like arugula and sliced cherry tomatoes. The perfect light dinner!
- seafood side. It would be fantastic with pesto salmon, grilled tilapia, creamy shrimp pasta, or plain pesto shrimp.
- Pasta. Make an easy main course by tossing it in a pot of spaghetti or bucatini! Drizzle with olive oil and salt until bursting. You can also add chickpeas or shredded fresh mozzarella for extra filling protein.
cauliflower nutrition
As we mentioned above… Roasted Cauliflower Parmesan has a lot of the addictive power of french fries! It not only saves calories but also adds a lot of nutrients. You get all the nutrient density of a head of cauliflower. Here’s a cauliflower diet breakdown (Source: Harvard Medical School):
- Low calorie food: 1 cup of chopped cauliflower has only 25 calories and 5 grams of carbs
- Rich in vitamins: Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C! It’s also a good source of vitamin B and potassium.
- Relatively high in fiber: Cauliflower is high in fiber: 1 cup is about 10% of your daily requirement.
This recipe for Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
The description
Nobody can resist this Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan! It’s as irresistible as fries baked in a hot oven until golden and crispy.
- 1 Medium head cauliflower (2 pounds or approx. 6 at Seven cups of stacked florets)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 at 2/3 cup of grated Parmesan
- For garnish: finely chopped Italian parsley (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Clean the cauliflower and cut into medium-sized florets. In a bowl, toss the cauliflower with the olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, and kosher salt.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cauliflower on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until browned on the bottom (we used our bottom rack to brown more).
- Remove the tray and mix with the Parmesan. Roast an additional 7 to 10 minutes, until cheese is golden brown and cauliflower is soft. Serve immediately, garnished with finely chopped parsley if desired.
- Category: garnish
- Method: roast meat
- Kitchen: Italian
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: Roasted Cauliflower Parmesan, Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan
More cauliflower recipes
Cauliflower is one of the most versatile vegetables! Here are some of our favorite uses:
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings better Baked Cauliflower Wings! They’re crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and drizzled with flavorful buffalo sauce.
- Cauliflower Skillet This easy skillet skillet is a great idea for a healthy and easy dinner! It’s packed with nutrients and covered in a flavorful sauce.
- Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Packed with flavor, filled with caramelized roasted cauliflower, parmesan, and fresh basil!
- Coconut Cauliflower Curry This easy dinner recipe is flavorful, nutritious, and ready in just over 30 minutes. win dinner.
Want more roasted veggies? Here are the best vegetables for roasting.
