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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Published: Mar 7, 2023 · This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

    Perfectly Roasted Whole Cauliflower Head (3 Ingredients)

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    perfectly roasted cauliflower head pin.
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    VOFGF

    Are you looking for a delicious yet simple meal that’s sure to be the star of any dinner party? Then look no further than this perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head! With just three ingredients, minimal prep time, and little mess, this roasted family favorite is an easy way to make a great impression on your guests. Plus, it tastes so good no one will guess it's healthy too! Show off your culinary skills with this flavorful dish that can't help but make mouths water while delivering an explosion of fresh flavor.

    perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head.
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    We love our roasted veggies, and this whole roasted cauliflower recipe makes a beautiful centerpiece for any dinner table. It's so delicious that even the pickiest eaters will love it. The outside of the cauliflower becomes crispy and caramelized, while the inside remains tender and juicy. You can also experiment with different seasonings or sauces to create your own unique flavor combinations, as we did with this spiced roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce, which makes a great side dish.

    In addition to being delicious, this cauliflower recipe is also packed with nutrients. It's low in calories, high in fiber, and a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. Plus, adding more veggies to your diet is a great way.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍶 Substitutions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 💡 Top tip
    • 📚 More cauliflower recipes
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 🌡️ Food safety
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    This whole roasted cauliflower head is made with just a few delicious ingredients.

    perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head ingredients.
    • The whole cauliflower head - steamed, fried, or roasted - is such a versatile ingredient to work with. It is the perfect side dish or can be used to make hearty meals and snacks.
    • Extra virgin olive oil - brings the golden color out of the cauliflower and helps caramelize the cumin. It is heart-healthy and gives a deeper flavor to vegetable dishes like this one, so using a good quality Spanish or Italian olive oil is key!
    • Fine sea salt 🌱 - yum! Rounds up all the roasting flavors!

    Optional: Maldon flaky salt to serve the cauliflower. You can also rub some of it with olive oil before baking the cauliflower head.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    🔪 Instructions

    This morning detox drink involves 3 simple steps.

    1. Washing and preparing the cauliflower.
    2. Boiling in the cauliflower head.
    3. Roasting the cauliflower with oil.

    Preheat oven to 480 ºF (250ºC).

    cut the outer cauliflower leaves.

    Carefully cut the outer leaves of the cauliflower and about an inch of the hard stem.

    boil cauliflower head in a large pot with salted water.

    Boil the whole head for 12 minutes in salted water until the cauliflower is fully blanched.

    Hint: you can leave the head intact with its leaves. The green leaves will turn dark brown and can be great for plating the dish.

    coat the drained cauliflower head with olive oil.

    Remove the cauliflower from the heat and drain. Pat dry with a clean tablecloth.

    brush the cauliflower head to coat evenly.

    Place the head of cauliflower on a prepared baking dish lined with parchment paper or a cast iron pan, top it with the oil, and brush it evenly.

    Hint: optionally massage the cauliflower with Maldon salt. Make sure you add olive oil to the cauliflower upside down, so the center also gets some olive oil goodness.

    Bake cauliflower in the mid-rack for 15-20 minutes, watching the oven after 15 minutes to ensure the top is not too burned. A dark golden brown is what we aim for!

    perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head.

    Bake the trimmed cauliflower head in the preheated oven, and roast until it has a lovely golden brown color.

    halved roasted whole cauliflower head.

    Place the entire head on a single serving plate and slice right in the middle.

    Hint: if you want to add color, add chopped fresh parsley and black pepper. You can also add some zesty lemon juice on top to serve.

    biteof rosted cauliflower in a fork.

    🍶 Substitutions

    Not much to substitute for the three-ingredient recipe, but if you are curious to try other simple flavorings, I recommend you to use toasted sesame oil, which has a strong and decisive flavor that pairs wonderfully with cauliflower.

    That's why we used tahini paste on our whole roasted spiced cauliflower with tahini sauce.

    📖 Variations

    Adding spices to the boiling water is one easy way to infuse the whole head of cauliflower with your favorite seasonings and colors into your cauliflower head.

    You can add a cube of concentrated vegetable broth and spices like smoked paprika and turmeric.

    Another option, if you love your garlic, is to massage the boiled head of cauliflower with garlic powder and olive oil before you bake it.

    If you like to add a sour note, you can drizzle freshly squeezed lemon juice on top of the whole baked cauliflower.

    🍽 Equipment

    1. Sharp knife and chopping board to remove the outer cauliflower leaves and inner stem.
    2. Baking tray - and parchment paper to put the head of cauliflower in the oven.
    3. Medium to large pot - to boil the cauliflower.
    4. Kitchen Brush - optional, to evenly coat the cauliflower with olive oil.

    🥡 Storage

    Store leftover cauliflower in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    You can freeze leftovers, but the cauliflower will be a little mushy when they thaw. If you absolutely need to freeze it, use leftovers to make a vegan "egg salad".

    You can freeze your immune-boosting juice in an airtight container, but it doesn't stand up well to freezing for more than 3 months. It will never reach the same nutrient density as fresh juice, but you will still enjoy its health benefits.

    💡 Top tip

    The trick in this easy recipe to ensure you have a softer cauliflower is to boil it. Otherwise, you must use aluminum foil before turning it into the oven. Then remove the foil to get the top of the cauliflower browned.

    📚 More cauliflower recipes

    Well, cauliflower is one of our favorite vegetables to cook, as it is super versatile, so we leave you some ideas to use this fantastic vegetable.

    Try out making an Indian cauliflower curry, deliciously spiced, or making a vegan egg salad.

    Make healthy low-carb cauliflower rice or cauliflower steaks the centerpiece of a meal.

    You can even make cauliflower juice or make vegan buffalo wings; the possibilities are endless.

    Check out our guide on cooking cruciferous vegetables.

    ❓ FAQ

    Calories in roasted cauliflower

    Roasted cauliflower is an incredibly healthy and delicious vegetable side dish with many nutritional benefits. A one-cup serving of roasted cauliflower contains just 25 calories, 1 gram of protein, 5 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.3 grams of fat, as long as you don´t have any oil.
    All in all, roasted cauliflower is a tasty and nutritious way to increase your daily intake of vegetables without overloading it with calories!
    Note: see recipe nutrition facts for this specific recipe.

    So next time you're in the mood for a healthy and tasty side dish, give this perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head a try. Your taste buds (and your body) will thank you!Regenerate response

    halved roasted whole cauliflower head.

    ⭐ If you try this Italian roasted cauliflower recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head featured.

    Perfectly Roasted Whole Cauliflower Head (3 Ingredients)

    Gus
    Looking for a simple yet impressive side dish? Try this recipe for a perfectly roasted whole cauliflower head with just three ingredients. This vegetarian and gluten-free dish is easy to make and sure to impress your guests!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 27 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Appetizer, Basics & Preparations, Side Dish
    Cuisine Healthy, Italian-Inspired, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 202 kcal

    Equipment

    white ceramic casserole dish.
    (affiliate link)
    Ceramic baking dish (affiliate link)
    cuisine art large casserole with a lid.
    (affiliate link)
    Large saucepan (affiliate link)
    15 Piece Kitchen Knife Set with Block by Cuisinart, Cutlery Set, Triple Rivet Collection.
    (affiliate link)
    Knife (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1.5 lb cauliflower head 700 grams or 1.5 pounds
    • ⅓ cup olive oil extra-virgin
    • 3 tablespoons fine sea salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Directions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 480 °F (250°C).
    • Remove the leaves and stem of the cauliflower head and trim the bottom so it can stand upright. Rinse the cauliflower head and pat dry with a paper towel.
    • Place the cauliflower head on a baking sheet and brush the olive oil mixture evenly over the entire cauliflower.
    • Roast the cauliflower in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until it is tender and the outside is golden brown. To check if it is done, insert a knife into the center of the cauliflower. If it is tender all the way through, it's ready.
    • Remove the cauliflower from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

    Video

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gSodium: 5284mgPotassium: 510mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin C: 82mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!
    Nutrition Facts
    Perfectly Roasted Whole Cauliflower Head (3 Ingredients)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    202
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    18
    g
    28
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    13
    g
    Sodium
     
    5284
    mg
    230
    %
    Potassium
     
    510
    mg
    15
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    8
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    3
    g
    3
    %
    Protein
     
    3
    g
    6
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    82
    mg
    99
    %
    Calcium
     
    41
    mg
    4
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
     
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    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Affiliate Disclaimer

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Katherine says

      March 07, 2023 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great way to serve up cauliflower!

      Reply
    2. Toni says

      March 07, 2023 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      I tried it and turned out perfectly! Thanks!

      Reply
    3. TAYLER ROSS says

      March 07, 2023 at 10:46 am

      5 stars
      I've been looking for more low carb dinner options, and this cauliflower is perfect! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply

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