Frivolously charred and crispy on the edges, candy and caramelized inside, Roasted Cauliflower is transformative, particularly in case your solely expertise of cauliflower to this point has been avoiding it uncooked on a veggie tray.
Roasted cauliflower is nutritious, and you may season it any which method. It makes consuming greens a pleasure!
In case you’re nonetheless ready to fall in love with (and even tolerate) greens, roasting is the #1 option to get extra of them in your weight loss program and get pleasure from it on the similar time.
We eat roasted greens virtually each single night time.
I even have a whole information devoted to them in my cookbook!
Whereas I’ll range what greens I roast based mostly on the season—Oven Roasted Greens, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Candy Potatoes, Roasted Carrots and Roasted Broccoli are all on common rotation round right here—roasted cauliflower is the one I come again to most.
- It tastes elegant.
- The seasonings are ultra-flexible.
- You possibly can pair it with no matter else you’re having for dinner.
At this level, I’ve roasted nicely over 100 heads of cauliflower, and I’ve realized ideas alongside the best way.
This submit has every part you should know to roast the perfect cauliflower of your life.
Prepared for crispy (not mushy!) roasted cauliflower that you simply’re going to search out your self inhaling straight off the sheet pan?
That is it!
Make the Finest Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Roasting completely crispy exterior and tender inside cauliflower is straightforward, with just a few easy ideas:
- Reduce the cauliflower into evenly sized florets, maximizing the variety of flat edges. The extra flat edges that contact the pan, the higher the caramelization. The extra even the scale, the extra even the roasting. See step-by-step images under.
- Use Sufficient Oil. Every floret ought to have a pleasant coating. You don’t have to drown them in oil, however be sure that they don’t really feel dry or the cauliflower will burn.
- Season it Up. Salt is a should for roasted greens or they may style bland. Even easy salt and pepper will make cauliflowr come alive. Or attempt making spicy roasted cauliflower or roasted cauliflower Parmesan for a change of tempo.
- DO NOT CROWD THE PAN. That is the roasted vegetable golden rule. In case you crowd the pan, the cauliflower will steam as an alternative of roast, and your cauliflower will find yourself mushy.
- Use a Excessive Oven Temperature. 400 levels F to 425 levels F is good for roasting cauliflower.
Reducing Cauliflower for Roasting
The extra flat edges in your roasted greens, the higher your outcomes (it’s why I flip my Brussels sprouts cut-sides down when making Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic).
Right here’s how one can minimize a head of cauliflower into florets for roasting.
It’s simple, efficient, and yields wonderful outcomes.
- Slice off the leaves and stem finish so you’ve a pleasant, flat base.
- Stand the cauliflower head up on the minimize measurement and minimize it into 4 slabs or “steaks” (see this Cauliflower Steak when you’d wish to prepare dinner them instantly with out additional reducing). Take away the interior core.
- Slice every slab into 1/2-inch florets, creating bite-sized items with flat floor space.
The Components
- Cauliflower. Typically underestimated, cauliflower is a significantly tasty veggie when roasted correctly. It caramelizes superbly and pairs nicely with virtually any dish.
- Olive Oil. The important thing ingredient for completely caramelized cauliflower with crisp edges.
- Salt + Pepper. Basic taste additions that assist make the cauliflower style its greatest.
- Elective Seasonings. I really like to make use of a easy but impactful mix of paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. Be at liberty to dream up your personal seasoning combination, herbs, or try a few of my different concepts under.
The Instructions
- Reduce the florets (see step-by-step images above), then switch your minimize florets to a baking sheet. Toss them with oil and seasonings. Transfer them right into a single layer. (You do not want to cowl baking sheet with parchment paper, although you’ll be able to when you like.)
- Roast cauliflower at 425 levels F for 22 to half-hour, tossing midway by way of. ENJOY!
Season Roasted Cauliflower
- Spicy Roasted Cauliflower. Swap the spices listed on this recipe for 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Italian Roasted Cauliflower. Use the spices beneficial on this recipe, including 1/4 teaspoon pink pepper flakes. Garnish your roasted cauliflower with chopped contemporary herbs like parsley and lemon zest with a splash of lemon juice.
- Curry Roasted Cauliflower. Swap the spices on this recipe for two teaspoons curry powder and 1 teaspoon floor cumin.
- Mexican Roasted Cauliflower. Omit the paprika, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan. Add 1 teaspoon chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon cumin. Garnish roasted florets with lime zest and chopped contemporary cilantro.
Cauliflower as a Major Occasion
As soon as roasted, cauliflower turns into virtually meaty. Listed here are just a few methods you’ll be able to prepare dinner it to show it right into a filling vegetarian meal.
Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Refrigerate florets in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet within the oven at 350 levels F or in a skillet on the range.
- To Freeze. Sure, you’ll be able to freeze roasted cauliflower. Place florets in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for as much as 3 months. Reheat from frozen or let thaw in a single day within the fridge.
Meal Prep Tip
As much as 1 day prematurely, minimize the cauliflower into florets. Refrigerate the florets in an hermetic container.
What to Serve with Roasted Cauliflower
Because of its delicate taste, roasted cauliflower goes nicely with nearly any protein, together with each meat and seafood.
Beneficial Instruments to Make this Recipe
The Finest Baking Sheets
Whether or not you’re roasting veggies, making a one-pan meal, or baking cookies, these rimmed baking sheet pans are precisely what you want.
Greens so tasty you’ll be able to’t cease consuming them?
With roasted cauliflower, the dream is actual!
Incessantly Requested Questions
No, it’s not. Merely minimize your cauliflower into florets, coat them with oil, then roast at a excessive temperature. Inside 25 minutes, you’ll have tender roasted cauliflower. I’d keep away from boiling as a result of it can make the cauliflower damp and mushy.
Roasted cauliflower can rapidly grow to be soggy and mushy if the pan is overcrowded, so be sure that to go away room between the florets. Utilizing an excessive amount of oil is one other widespread offender. Be certain that the florets have sufficient oil to caramelize however not an excessive amount of to grow to be soggy. A light-weight coating is ideal.
Positive! For roasted cauliflower within the air fryer, minimize and season the cauliflower as directed. Place the florets in a single layer within the basket of an air fryer coated with nonstick spray. Prepare dinner at 400 levels F for quarter-hour, flipping the florets midway by way of. Repeat with any remaining florets.
FOR CLASSIC ROASTED CAULIFLOWER:
OPTIONAL:
- 1 teaspoon paprika common or smoked
- 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
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Relying upon the scale of your pan, coat 1 or 2 rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray. You want sufficient pan floor space to carry all the florets in a single layer with out touching. Place a rack within the heart of the oven (if utilizing 1 baking sheet) or the higher and decrease thirds (if utilizing 2 baking sheets) and preheat the oven to 425 levels F.
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Reduce off the stem finish of the cauliflower head so that you’ve a flat base.
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Stand it up on the bottom then minimize it into 4 even wedges, slicing from the highest of the pinnacle down by way of the stem. Trim away the interior core areas, leaving a lot of the wedge intact.
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Subsequent, beginning at one of many flat sides, minimize the wedge into ½ inch “steaks” so that you’ve most flat floor space. A few of the florets will fall away. With the knife or your fingers, break up any remaining florets which are caught collectively. If any florets are wider than 1 1/2 inches, slice them in half once more (the aim is to maximise flat floor space, for the perfect caramelization).
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Switch the florets to a baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and the paprika and/or Italian seasoning (if utilizing). Toss to evenly coat. Unfold the florets right into a single layer, dividing them evenly between the 2 pans if wanted. For max caramelization, flip the florets in order that the widest, flattest sides are touching the floor of the pan.
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Roast the cauliflower till it’s darkish and crispy on the ends and caramelized within the heart, about 22 to half-hour, relying upon your oven’s energy and the way intently the florets are spaced on the pan. Midway by way of the baking time, toss the florets and unfold them again right into a single layer, rotate the baking sheet(s) 180 levels F, and (if utilizing 2 pans) change their positions on the higher and decrease racks. Sprinkle with parmesan (if utilizing) and extra salt to style. Inhale instantly.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate cauliflower in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet within the oven at 350 levels F or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Sure, you’ll be able to freeze roasted cauliflower. Place cauliflower florets in a single layer on a baking sheet, then freeze till stable. Switch the frozen florets to an hermetic freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for as much as 3 months. Reheat from frozen.
Serving: 1(of 4); with out optionally available seasoningEnergy: 63kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFats: 7gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 5gPotassium: 12mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg
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