This Roasted Cauliflower is an ultra-healthy snack or side dish packed with veggies and loaded with flavors like lemon, garlic, paprika, cumin, and coriander.
In the days leading up to cooking, I didn’t pay much attention to the cauliflower. It was one of those throwaway veggies — the ones everyone leaves out on veggie trays. I’ll admit that raw cauliflower isn’t as appealing as some of the other veggies on the plate. But it’s a whole different ball game when you put it in the oven. Roasted cauliflower brings out such a delicious flavor and texture that it’s hard to resist devouring a whole head in one sitting!
At least, we think so. To round out our current collection of roasted cauliflower recipes, here’s a Mediterranean-spiced version to add to your repertoire! We created this flavorful roasted cauliflower recipe to complement our Mediterranean Bulgur Chickpea Salad and they were the perfect pairing. This recipe also makes a great side dish for a variety of main courses or as a snack (it has that addictive popcorn quality).
Our favorite cauliflower recipe? Perfect Roasted Cauliflower
How to roast cauliflower
Roasting cauliflower is easy and there are a few basic steps we always follow when roasting vegetables. First of all, it is important to cut the cauliflower into roughly equal pieces. This will ensure that the cauliflower pieces cook evenly and at the same speed. Once you’ve chopped the cauliflower, toss it in olive oil and spices. We’ve found that one tablespoon of olive oil is enough for a whole head of cauliflower – remember, you want the cauliflower to be lightly coated in oil, not drown in it!
The final and most important step in preparing roasted cauliflower is preheating the oven. You’re looking for a lightly crunchy, caramelized exterior and a soft, fully cooked interior. If your oven is set too low, the cauliflower will cook but not roast well. Set the temperature too high and the cauliflower will burn in minutes.
To spice up this roasted cauliflower, we squeezed some fresh lemon juice on top. This step is completely optional, but it really transforms this dish!
Looking for more cauliflower recipes?
If you love this cruciferous vegetable, here are more cauliflower recipes to try:
This Seasoned Roasted Cauliflower Recipe is…
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.
The description
This Roasted Cauliflower is an ultra-healthy snack or side dish packed with veggies and loaded with flavors like lemon, garlic, paprika, cumin, and coriander.
- 1 cauliflower head
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Ground fresh pepper
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Chop the garlic. Grate 1 lemon.
- In a large bowl, combine cauliflower, garlic, and lemon zest with cumin, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Stir to coat it evenly.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the cauliflower on it. Cook until soft, about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over to serve and add additional kosher salt to taste, if desired. Serve hot.
- Category: garnish
- Method: Cooked
- Kitchen: Mediterranean Sea
Keywords: Roasted Cauliflower, how to roast cauliflower
