Whole roasted cauliflower, a great vegan alternative for the holidays, special occasions or everyday cooking. It’s a delicious side or main dish.
It’s almost Christmas so I want to share with you guys some Christmas recipes during this month, like this delicious whole roasted cauliflower, which it’s also perfect for Thanksgiving by the way.
Whole roasted cauliflower is a great alternative to any roast meat, so you can enjoy it as a main dish or side dish, it’s up to you!
I always try to include some source of plant-based protein, any healthy carb and some veggies in every single meal. Besides, cauliflower is low in calories, and not very satiating, so I prefer to serve this as a side dish.
Many people I know don’t like cauliflower and I think it’s because they don’t know how to make delicious recipes with this amazing veggie. I used to hate it as well, but it has become a staple in my kitchen and I couldn’t live without it.
This recipe is not only for Christmas or Thanksgiving but also for any special occasion or even for everyday cooking because the cauliflower is ready to bake in just 5 minutes and then you just only need to bake it until golden brown.
How To Make Whole Roasted Cauliflower – Step by Step
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 180ºC.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl (except the cauliflower) until well combined (photo 1).
- Trim the base of the cauliflower to remove any green leaves and the woody stem and rub the marinade all over the cauliflower (photo 2).
- Then place the cauliflower onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown (photo 3). I don’t like my cauliflower super soft, just al dente, so feel free to bake it longer if you want.
- Remove from the oven, allow to slightly cool before serving and serve immediately (photo 4).
Pro tips
- Feel free to use oil instead of tahini (extra virgin oil is my favorite choice, but any oil will do). I would add about 3 tbsp of oil and no water.
- Use any herbs or spices you want or have on hand.
- You could also add some minced garlic, but it burns easily, so keep that in mind.
- I like to use a basting brush to rub the marinade all over the cauliflower, but it’s not necessary. You can also use your hands, a spoon or even a paper napkin.
- Baking time may vary depending on your oven, the size of your cauliflower or how soft you want it.
- If your cauliflower is already golden brown, but not soft enough, cover with some aluminum foil and bake until soft.
- I’ve never frozen it myself, but I would chop the cauliflower and keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months.
Can you reheat whole roasted cauliflower?
Yes, you can. Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 180ºC and bake until warm throughout (ideally covered with aluminum foil).
You can also chop the cauliflower and reheat it in a skillet. Add some oil if necessary.
What to serve whole roasted cauliflower with?
Looking for more cauliflower recipes?
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Vegan Cauliflower Soup
- Cauliflower Steak
- Vegan Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Vegan Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Did you make this whole roasted cauliflower recipe?
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Whole Roasted Cauliflower
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- 2-4 1x
- Side Dish, Main Dish
- Vegan, American
Servings 2-4 1x
Whole roasted cauliflower, a great vegan alternative for the holidays, special occasions or everyday cooking. It’s a delicious side or main dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp tahini, see notes
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 large head of cauliflower
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 180ºC.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl (except the cauliflower) until well combined.
- Trim the base of the cauliflower to remove any green leaves and the woody stem.
- Rub the marinade all over the cauliflower, then place onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. I don’t like my cauliflower super soft, just al dente, so feel free to bake it longer if you want.
- Remove from the oven and allow to slightly cool before serving. I added some chopped cauliflower on top, but it’s totally optional.
- Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Feel free to use oil instead of tahini (extra virgin oil is my favorite choice, but any oil will do). I would add about 3 tbsp of oil and no water.
- Use any herbs or spices you want or have on hand.
- You could also add some minced garlic, but it burns easily, so keep that in mind.
- I like to use a basting brush to rub the marinade all over the cauliflower, but it’s not necessary. You can also use your hands, a spoon or even a paper napkin.
- Baking time may vary depending on your oven, the size of your cauliflower or how soft you want it.
- If your cauliflower is already golden brown, but not soft enough, cover with some aluminum foil and bake until soft.
- I’ve never frozen it myself, but I would chop the cauliflower and keep in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months.
- I’ve improved the recipe by adding 2 tbsp of water instead of 2 tsp.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 107
- Sugar: 5.8 g
- Sodium: 196 mg
- Fat: 4.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.5 g
- Fiber: 6.7 g
- Protein: 6 g
Update Notes: This post was originally published in December of 2017, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions and tips in December of 2019.
The flavor profile is spectacular!! We made this tonight – beautiful & delicious.
★★★★★
Hi Anna! Thank you so much 🙂
Easy and always comes right
Hi Michal! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 Have a nice day!
This was delicious! Accidentally used rosemary instead of oregano and it was divine!
★★★★★
Hi Natasha!! Sometimes an accident brings a great recipe!! Coulant is a great example of it! Thank you for sharing it with us! Have a great day!
I can’t handle spicy things, so I used 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar glaze instead of the tahini. I added sesame seeds, extra lemon juice, and olive oil, with no water. It was extremely flavorful and smelled delicious!
★★★★★
Hi Lisa! Tahini is not spicy 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
Tasty! I put a dish of water in my oven to keep the cauliflower moist. I also used minced fresh garlic instead of using powder, subbed smoked paprika for the regular, and doubled the turmeric. Next time, I will reduce the amount of water a bit. Delicious!
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Hi Kristen! Sounds so good 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Just made this and it’s absolutely delicious! Thank you very much
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Hi Joshua! You’re so welcome 🙂 SO glad you liked it!
Made this for lunch and it was delicious. I had a large cauliflower so it cooked for 1hour in the oven, I also put a bowl of water in the oven along with it when cooking. My sauce didn’t dry out, it was all perfect…..so perfect I ate 3/4 of it in one sitting. Thanks for a great recipe.
Hi Samantha! You’re so welcome 🙂 So glad you enjoy it!
Can you add to the recipe to precook the cauliflower.. no diner for me tonight 🙁
Hi Thomas! You don’t need to precook the cauliflower. If you follow all the stepts it works. If the cauliflower is not soft, just bake it longer (every oven is different). Have a nice day!
I’ve been looking for a flavorful cauliflower recipe. So happy to have found this!
Hi Dana! I’m so glad you like it 🙂
Would like to confess that since childhood I am a carnivor but the colliflour recipe was just fantastic and please go the extra mile to get thahini makes a lot of difference.
Hi Keith! I’m so happy to hear that 🙂
I followed the recipie and baked the cauliflower for over an hour but it was still quite hard in the middle and we found the dish rather dry. I think I would steam the whole cauliflower for 10 to 15 minutes before coating it in the paste and then roast it next time. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Hi Mary! I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t work for you. Try to use a smaller cauliflower or bake at a higher temperature. Hope it helps!
The spices are a great combination but somehow this didn’t work for me. The tahini paste dried like a shell on the cauliflower which after an hour was still pretty raw in the middle. At that point I chucked some water over it and put a lid in and bunged it in the hot Aga oven for 15 mins. Cauliflower now softer but the hard shell just cracked off.
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Hi Anna! I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t work for you. Did you use the same ingredients and followed all the steps? You could bake the cauliflower at a lower temperature or cover it with some foil. Hope it helps!
Made it tonight with smoked paprika….awesomely good. So easy.
Hi Patricia! So glad you liked it 🙂
The flavours are great, but I found it a bit dry, even after roasting for 1.15 hrs. I think I will drizzle oil on the cauli before the spices next time
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Hi Sue! Our cauliflower wasn’t dry at all, you could roast it for 45-60 minutes instead, but feel free to add some oil if needed 🙂
I love tahini and this is a perfect recipe for me. I added extra lemon because I always enjoy my broccoli and cauliflower that way.
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Hi Tulip! Sounds great 🙂 So glad you liked it!
This was absolutely delicious 😋
My book Cauliflower, which was an early Christmas gift, got misplaced at my Moms. I had bought cauliflower to start making some of Oz Telems recipes. After a google search I came across your blog, and am so happy I did!
Thanks
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Hi Ruth! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you liked it!
I just made this roasted cauliflower tonight after I got back from yoga class it was so so good I just wrote the whole thing with coconut oil and then put all the spices on it was fantastic I ate practically the whole thing I will be making it again thank you so much
Hi Dorothy! I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
I added maple syrup to the marinade and covered the cauliflower with foil after 20 mins to stop the marinade burning. Ate the left overs cold the next day. Yum!
★★★★
Hi Tamara! So glad you liked it 🙂
Sounds wonderful and I’ll give it a try. I like to make cauliflower steaks with a dijon, liquid amino, nutritional yeast glaze.
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Hi Nancy! Hope you like it 😀
Hi, I love whole cauliflower and I can’t wait to try your version. If I was making this as a main, what would you suggest as a side, I’m always at a loss for ideas?
Hi Laura! I would serve it with some healthy carb (rice, potatoes) and a source of protein (tofu, beans). Hope you like it!
I think sort sort of magic must occur in the time that raw, unglamorous cauliflower goes into the oven, whole and comes out so wonderful. This looks like another fab way to try whole roasting a cauli.
Thank you
★★★★★
Hi Alex! You’re so welcome 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
What could I use as a substitute for the tahini? We have a sesame allergy
Hi Katie! You could use any other nut or seed butter or even oil 🙂
LOVE the simplicity of this recipe, but it’s also so impressive! I used to dislike cauliflower too, but you’re totally right in that people most often just don’t know what to do with it. This looks amazing!
Hi Sara! Thanks a lot 🙂 Have a beautiful week!