Roasted Cauliflower
September 11, 2016
Revised & updated 1/24/2021 - Think cauliflower is tasteless & boring? Not anymore! When you roast cauliflower, it brings out it's wonderful nutty flavor. Cauliflower is low in fat, high in nutrients, vitamins, minerals & antioxidants. A true superfood you'll want to add to your diet on a regular basis.
Serves: 3 to 4
Directions
1 Move an oven rack to the lower middle position & preheat oven to 400°.
2 Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil & lightly grease with EVOO.
3 Remove leaves & stem from cauliflower. Starting on the underside, cut & break off florets. Cut larger ones into thirds or fourths & medium ones in half so the pieces are somewhat evenly sized.
4 Place florets in a 2.5 quart bowl & drizzle with 1 Tblsp EVOO. Toss till florets are well coated, add more oil sparingly, if needed.
5 Spread out florets on the baking sheet, arranging similar sizes together (see Tip# 1) & evenly sprinkle with salt & pepper.
6 Roast florets for approximately 25 - 30 minutes, turning them over 1/2 way through. When done, florets should be fork-tender & caramelized in spots. Cooking times will vary depending on size of florets & you may need to remove smaller ones as they become done.
7 Remove from oven & serve immediately or transfer florets to a plate to cool (see Tip# 2).
8 If you couldn't fit all the florets on your baking sheet; wipe foil with a damp paper towel & repeat steps# 4 thru 7 with the other half of cauliflower head (see Tip# 3).
9 Besides serving this as a side dish, you can also serve it as a snack or appetizer with your favorite dip!
Tips & Suggestions
1 Arranging similar sizes together makes it easier to remove smaller ones if they're done first.
2 If you're cooking this ahead of time to freeze or if you have leftovers:
a. Let cauliflower cool to room temperature.
b. Freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months.
c. If you're planning to use within a couple of days, store container(s) in the refrigerator & reheat when ready to serve.
3 I'll generally spend one morning roasting a variety of veggies, using the same baking sheet & foil. Then I'll freeze them for later use. It saves a lot of money using the same foil over & over again and in the long run it saves a lot of time.
Cauliflower is a staple here too and roasting is one of the most delicious ways to prepare it in my opinion! Perfect side dish for so many dishes, thank you for sharing 🙂
Cauliflower has emerged as such a versatile vegetable these days with it being like rice or in pizza crust. But I love roasting it simply as you describe here. I could probably heat a whole head of it just as in your recipe!
this is beautiful. Healthy and can be tried time and again. I would definitely make it.
I love roasted cauliflower. It’s super easy to make and such a great side dish. Have to do this more often!
I love roasting veggies. They taste so much better than boiled. Love your tips for roasting cauliflower. It makes sense to group same size florets together! I need to remember that!
Looks delicious! Simple’s always best 🙂
I love the flavor of roasted cauliflower. Need to do this more often. Thanks for the reminder and detailed recipe!
Your roasted cauliflower is the perfect keto dish. Pinning this one on my keto side dish board to make the next time I head to the store.
This is one of my favorite things to make. I love the simplicity of it, and it makes a perfect side dish.
This looks really good and easy to make. I’m going to try it soon. Plus, I like the idea of roasting a bunch of things and freezing them. Thanks for the great tip!