Best Ever Roast Cauliflower
Cauliflower is pretty trendy right now. But this isn’t a trendy recipe. It’s a classic roasted cauliflower recipe. You know, the kind of recipe you actually make. Recently I’ve seen recipes for cauliflower pizza crust, cauliflower florets made to be like buffalo wings, cauliflower puree that’s a stand-in for alfredo sauce, mashed cauliflower as a sub for mashed potatoes, cauliflower breaded and baked or fried for chips, and the list goes on. Except I’m not that creative, I’m on vacation, and I eat tons of cauliflower exactly like this. Drizzled with a little coconut oil, seasoned with smoked paprika or turmeric, and baked for about 20 minutes. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and full of flavor. It’s filling, hearty, comforting, and stays al dente. There’s enough texture retained so it’s not at all mushy and has plenty of chomp factor.
The smoked paprika, along with the natural flavors that are brought out when you roast vegetables, make the cauliflower so tasty. While I don’t mind the raw bitey-ness that raw cauliflower has, some people do, and roasting tempers and mellows it. Normally I eat my vegetables fairly plain and basic, which some may call ‘boring.’ However, when it comes to vegetables, basic and ‘boring’ is what I always go back to. But if you’re trying to twist someone’s arm to eat more vegetables, the easy, 30-second cauliflower dipping sauce can’t hurt. It’s made with with equal parts sour cream and shredded cheese. I can demolish a head of cauliflower by myself. So good.
Ingredients for Oven Roasted Cauliflower
To make roast cauliflower in the oven, you’ll need:
Fresh cauliflower Coconut oil Smoked paprika Salt and pepper
For the cauliflower dipping sauce, you’ll need:
Sour cream Grated Parmesan cheese
How to Make Oven Roasted Cauliflower
This is such an easy roasted cauliflower recipe that’s easy to customize using your favorite spices. Here’s my preferred method for roasting cauliflower in the oven:
What Temperature to Roast Cauliflower?
I prefer roasting my cauliflower at 375ºF. A slightly lower temperature gives the cauliflower time to cook from the inside out before it starts to caramelize on the bottom.
How Long to Roast Cauliflower?
I find 20 to 25 minutes at 375ºF is perfect!
Can the Coconut Oil Be Substituted?
I love roasting vegetables with coconut oil and don’t think it makes the cauliflower taste like coconut at all. Use olive or another favorite oil if you’re concerned.
Can You Roast Frozen Cauliflower?
Technically, yes. You can roast frozen cauliflower straight from the freezer, just add a few minutes to the bake time. However, I find that frozen cauliflower is mushy once roasted and doesn’t retain any bite or texture, which is what I love about classic oven roasted cauliflower.
Tips for the Best Roasted Cauliflower
To oil the cauliflower: I prefer to dip my fingers in the melted coconut oil and run my fingers over the florets so they don’t become over-oiled nor have oil pooling on the baking tray. Roasting time: Note that the top side of the florets stays whiter while the base could be caramelizing/browning quite a bit, so make sure to check the undersides when testing for doneness. I don’t bother flipping it midway through roasting, although you could. For the dipping sauce: You can use cream cheese or mayo, including vegan or lite versions, instead of sour cream. I had Parmesan handy, but most any cheese will work.
More Easy Roasted Vegetable Recipes:
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