Roasted Cauliflower is 100% customizable with your favorite seasonings. You can make basic Roasted Cauliflower, Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower or my favorite Curry Roasted Cauliflower (as pictured). Any way you serve this easy Roasted Cauliflower recipe, you will have a crave-worthy winner full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals!
You are sure to love this recipe for Roasted Cauliflower!
I LOVE roasted vegetables from Roasted Broccoli to Roasted Carrots to Roasted Root Vegetables to Roasted Asparagus to Roasted Potatoes., and now I can add Roasted Cauliflower to the list! But I have to admit, I used to not love or even like cauliflower. I thought it was SO boring. And then I discovered oven Roasted Cauliflower and its like I was seeing in color for the first time. Instead of seeing cauliflower as a plain, bland vegetable, I saw it transform into a nutty, buttery flavored delight with golden caramelized edges and the perfect vehicle for Parmesan, lemon, salt, pepper, curry, turmeric, paprika and every other palate pleasing flavor. Who knew Roasted Cauliflower could be so crazy delicious?! Once you learn how to roast cauliflower (and I use the term “learn” loosely because roasting cauliflower is so easy – you don’t have to stand over them or even stir!), you will never want to make cauliflower any other way! It might take you a couple times to find your personal favorite way to prepare Roasted Cauliflower, but once you do, I promise you’ll be reaching for the Roasted Cauliflower instead of chips or cookies.
Oven Roasted Cauliflower ingredients
Cauliflower is very mild in flavor which means it is virtually a blank canvas for whatever seasonings you are in the mood for – feel free to get as creative as you would like!
BASIC ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
Roasted Cauliflower transforms into a mouthwatering, caramelized snack with just a few simple ingredients:
Cauliflower florets: see section on how to cut cauliflower. Olive oil: use extra virgin olive oil for more flavor. Salt: salt is a MUST otherwise your cauliflower will taste bland. Pepper: use more or less to taste. You can always add more salt and pepper to taste after you taste your roasted cauliflower. Garlic powder: I find the flavor of garlic powder gets more evenly distributed than minced garlic but you may use 2 cloves minced garlic if you prefer.
How to choose cauliflower
It’s a sad day when you go to make roasted cauliflower and your beautifully creamy white cauliflower is now spotty bad news. To pick cauliflower that will stay fresh longest, pick a head that is free from browning, wet spots or “sun burned spots.” The cauliflower should be firm, heavy for its size with densely packed florets. The leaves should be fresh and vibrant green which is a sign that the cauliflower was recently harvested. With just these 5 ingredients, you are in for nutty, buttery deliciousness.
Cauliflower Seasoning
That being said, I always like to add a little extra oomph to my roasted cauliflower with some of the ideas below:
CURRY ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
This is by FAR my favorite way to prepare Roasted Cauliflower. I CRAVE Curried Roasted Cauliflower like a cookie monster craves cookies. I make it for snacks, for dinner sides and for more snacks. Patrick also loves this roasted cauliflower preparation. It has a mild kick to it but is more flavorful than “spicy” and still kid friendly. To make Curry Roasted Cauliflower, follow the basic Roasted Cauliflower recipe but add 1 teaspoon yellow curry powder when you add the rest of the seasonings. Now be prepared for this outrageously simple, crazy delicious roasted cauliflower recipe to blow. your. mind.
PARMESAN ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower is one of the most popular ways to make roasted cauliflower. It adds to the natural nuttiness of the cauliflower. To make Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan, roast Cauliflower until tender then sprinkle with ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan then cook 3-5 minutes or until the Parmesan melts. You can use more or less Parmesan to taste.
Lemon ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
Lemon is often paired with garlic and Parmesan when roasting cauliflower or it can be added without the Parmesan. To make Roasted Cauliflower with lemon, simply stir in 1 tablespoons lemon juice and lemon zest to taste after roasting.
CHEESY ROASTED BROCCOLI
You can add any type of cheese from cheddar to pepper jack to your Roasted Cauliflower once it is tender then continue to bake until the cheese is melted.
HERB ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
You can enhance the flavor of Roasted Cauliflower by adding 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or a variety of fresh herbs. I like to add Italian seasoning when I am adding Parmesan and/or lemon juice.
OTHER INGREDIENT IDEAS:
You can add virtually anything to Roasted Cauliflower! Here are a few more ideas:
Cajun seasoning Turmeric Chinese 5 spice Smoked paprika Ground Cumin Chili Powder Red chili flakes
I also love serving oven Roasted Cauliflower with nuts such as cashews, sliced almonds, pistachios and peanuts. It is also fabulous with chopped cilantro, dried cranberries, blueberries and lemon or Italian dressing.
How to Roast Cauliflower
How to cut cauliflower for this Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Cauliflower is very simple to cut. The only important factor is to try and cut the florets into a uniform size to ensure even cooking, but don’t stress too much about it. To cut the cauliflower:
What temp do you roast cauliflower?
Roast cauliflower for 25-30 minutes at 425 degrees F or until tender with crispy tops. There are several factors that affect the tenderness of the roasted cauliflower such as floret moisture, floret freshness, floret size and actual oven heat. So just test your cauliflower after 25 minutes and cook on if you like it more tender OR if you like the edges more crispy/charred.
How long to Roast Cauliflower
Roast cauliflower at 425 degrees F for 25-30 minutes OR until cauliflower are fork tender and the edges are slightly charred.
How to store fresh and Roasted Cauliflower
Even if you select a fresh cauliflower, it can get moldy very quickly without proper storage. When you get your cauliflower home, unwrap it from the cellophane which can trap moisture and promotes rot. Transfer the cauliflower to a sealed plastic bag with a paper towel inside to absorb any excess moisture then puncture several holes near the head of the cauliflower. Store in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for 4 to 7 days.
How long does Roasted CAULIFLOWER Last?
Roasted cauliflower can be stored in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What Should I do with Roasted CAULIFLOWER Leftovers?
There are never any Roasted Cauliflower leftovers at my house, but in the rare case you get the pleasure, leftovers are delicious plain or added to pastas, rice, omelettes and even pizza!
Can I Make Roasted Cauliflower Ahead of Time?
If you want to prepare your cauliflower in advance, then I suggest tossing it with with the olive oil and seasonings, spreading it out on the baking sheet and then refrigerating. When you are ready to eat then oven roast your cauliflower.
How do I reheat this Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
You can reheat roasted cauliflower in the microwave or on the stovetop but for crispier cauliflower, heat it in the oven at 350 degrees F until hot.
What to serve with this Recipe for Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Cauliflower is fabulous with virtually everything because it is a chameleon when it comes to seasonings. Start with the basic oven Roasted Cauliflower recipe, then add seasonings to suite your cuisine. Need a side for your Asian dinner? Pair Roasted Cauliflower with turmeric, curry powder, Chinese 5 spice or ginger and serve it with Tandoori Chicken, Asian BBQ Salmon, Lemongrass Chicken, Mongolian Chicken or Asian Caramel Pork. Need a side for your Italian dinner? Pair oven Roasted Cauliflower with Italian seasonings, garlic and Parmesan and serve it with Lasagna, Spaghetti, Chicken Parmesan, Baked Penne, Million Dollar Mac or Shrimp Fettuccine. Need a side for your comfort food dinner? Pair Roasted Cauliflower with smoked paprika and/or cheese and serve it with Beef Brisket, Spice Rubbed Steaks, Baked Ham, French Dips, Chicken Cordon Bleu or Oven Fried Chicken.
Looking for more Oven Roasted Vegetable Recipes?
Maple Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash. Baked Parmesan Fingerling Potato Fries Roasted Broccolini (With Lemon and Garlic) Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes Asian Roasted Butternut Squash and Cashews Mexican French Fries with Salsa Ketchup
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