Up until recently, cauliflower was on my list of hated vegetables. It wasn’t something I enjoyed despite trying to eat and enjoy more vegetables. Maybe it was the funny look of it or maybe it was just the fact that I had never had it cooked in the best way possible: roasted.
If you have never had roasted cauliflower then you need to try it soon. ASAP. As soon as you finish reading this post. It’s one of my favorite ways to eat cauliflower and I’ve found almost every who tries it loves it as well.
It’s also a super simple way to prepare cauliflower which makes it even more amazing!
Roasting cauliflower is super simple but makes it taste amazing. The steps are below but if you know how to roast any vegetable you’ll be able to roast cauliflower.
Roasted Cauliflower Step 1
First, preheat the oven to 400 F. Or something close. My oven is old and doesn’t exactly get to a very specific temperature, so trust me when I say just being close enough to your intended temperature will work. It’s not rocket science, I promise.
Roasted Cauliflower Step 2
Then, get your head of cauliflower. In this example I’m only using half a head of cauliflower since I was eating by myself.
Chop up the cauliflower into like size shapes. You can cut them bigger or smaller, it’s really personal preference. Keep them similar in size so they will cook equally. The roasting time will depend on how big you cut them.
Roasted Cauliflower Step 3
Then, break out your cute colorful measuring spoons and olive oil. Any measuring spoons will do, even if they aren’t colorful. ;)
Measuring spoons are not entirely necessary – I just really love mine. You can use your best judgment for the oil. I tend to use a little less than 1 tbsp for a whole head of cauliflower.
There are two ways you can coat the cauliflower with olive oil.
- Put the cauliflower pieces in a bowl and toss them with olive oil to thoroughly coat or
- Lay the cauliflower pieces on the baking pan and drizzle with olive oil. Either way works.
Roasted Cauliflower Step 4
Next sprinkle the cauliflower with salt and pepper. I use sea salt and freshly ground pepper. You can use other seasonings but if you want to keep it simple and delicious? Stick with the basics.
Roasted Cauliflower Step 5
Then stick the pan in the oven that’s been preheated. At 400°F cauliflower will take 25-30 minutes to roast. If you’ve tried a different temperature on your oven then just watch the cauliflower around that time and let it cook until it’s tender and starts to brown.
Roasted Cauliflower Step 6
Mmmm. Enjoy!
If you want, you can also sprinkle Parmesan cheese, or other cheese, on top. ;)
I love roasted cauliflower! I’ve eaten it before and I ate it today and I can’t wait to eat it again. It’s really one of my favorite vegetables to roast because it just makes the cauliflower taste so good. It even smells really good while it’s roasting. It’s magical!
Have you roasted cauliflower before?
You could also try preparing cauliflower in one of my other favorite ways: mashed! Check out my tips and recipe for how to make mashed cauliflower!
we love that here
AND THE MASHED!!!
This is the only way I like cauliflower! I think it tastes like popcorn!
I have to confess that cauliflower is one of those vegetables that never even enters my mind. I couldn’t even tell you where it is in the produce section. :) I have had cauliflower mashed before (at a restaurant) and it was right tasty.
It is so very satisfying.
I love roasted cauliflower! Got a cauliflower in my fridge waiting for the roasting!
Yes, yes, yes! I LOVE roasted cauliflower. A friend of mine roasted it with sweet potatoes and I literally could not stop eating it. The flavor surprised me – so potent and good! Thanks for the inspiration – we have a head in the fridge and I will roast it up tonight!
I love roasted cauliflower and broccoli ;) sometimes i throw leftovers in a tortilla with a bit of cheese and salsa!
Now that sounds delicious.
I love Cauliflour. We grow it in the summer so we have an abundance of it around this time of year.
We also roast it. But, I used cooking spray instead of olive oil and once it’s roasted and tender I season it with a little minced garlic and some balsamic vinegar! SOOOO yummy!
I love using balsamic vinegar sometimes too! I think balsamic roasted veggies taste great, especially brussel sprouts.
I’ve done cauliflower “popcorn” which is surprisingly yummy. I think roasting makes almost all veggies tastier.
This is what made me go from a cauliflower hater to a big-time lover. Roasting it gives it such a nice flavor.
i’ve never roasted cauliflower but i have roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts. the sprouts were good but the broccoli was awesome! it was so good that i forgot i was eating a vegetable.
Exactly. Cauliflower is the same way, if not better! Definitely try it. ;)
Love it that way! I am a recent convert to all roasted vegetables. I’ve roasted cauliflower twice now and it is really the only way to cook it. The added cheese just takes it to another level too. Yum.
I have never tried roasted cauliflower before. I will have to try it! I recently jumped onto the roasted veggie train and I am quite excited about it.
I never even tried cauliflower until a couple years ago – I just made cauliflower tater tots, which ended up tasting like hush puppies – my daughter and I loved them!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/2010/11/09/i-think-ill-make-cauliflower-tater-tots/
That’s a totally cute idea! I might try that eventually. You can make some really cool things with cauliflower! :)
I love roasting cauliflower! Probably my 2nd fav veggie to roast. My #1 is carrots, sprinkle with olive oil and dill and roast until soft. OMG the roasting brings out the carrots natural sweetness. Absolutely Amazing.
I’m roasting carrots later this week. I’m so excited!
Love roasted veggies! But I especially LOVE when hubby grill cauliflower. OH. MY.
I’m not a fan of caulflower, at all, but since you say it is also one of your hated vegetables, I’ll give it a shot. I’m always happy to find a new way to get veggies in, especially one that I currently despise. :)
Well, to be fair, at one point ALL vegetables were hated vegetables for me. :)
Cauliflower is definitely my least favorite vegetable! When I was younger my mom used to make this delicious looking/smelling cauliflower-pasta-soup dish that I’d try every time and I’d ALWAYS end up picking around the cauliflower. I may give roasting a chance though!
Do at least try it! It tastes really good roasted and I didn’t like it other ways.
We probably eat roasted cauliflower once a week on average. Love it!
I love roasted cauliflower (well, roasted anything, but the cauliflower is especially good)
One of our faves is with curry powder sprinkled before baking – yum yum
I HATE vegetables, and I’ve been meaning to do this for months. Thanks for the step by step directions, because I wasn’t sure how to do it.
It’s really easy Hope. And it’s something you can’t really mess up, unless you leave them in there for hours. ;)
I love your measuring spoons. I am def planning to make roast cauliflower at some point :) its still quicker to boil it though, and when youre really hungry and need dinner, quicker always wins.
I just roasted it today for the first time! along with a bunch of other veggies. The cauliflower was my favorite!! I LOVE it roasted.
I also love your measuring spoons. How fun!! Love bright colors…
Ooooh, yum. I love roasted vegetables (it’s on the menu tonight, can’t wait), but I’ve never done cauliflower before. I’m going to have to change that :)
I LOVE your measuring spoons. I saw a set like that at Stevens a while back and coveted them, but I have two sets already. So I bought a purple stirring spoon to appease my heart. I also really want the russian doll measuring cups from Redcurrent. Gah. I love kitchen pretties so much.
That’s where I got mine! They were the most fun ones I’d ever seen, so I had to get them. :)
I just discovered roasting cauliflower too! I like it with curry on it or chipotle chili powder :-) I also tried cheddar cauliflower this week – no, not regular stuff drowing in cheddar cheese, it’s actually orange naturally! It has a creamier texture – I even liked it boiled! Yumm…..
It’s on my list of hated veggies too…but I think I might try this! Thanks :)
I’m a huge fan of roasted most things but I don’t even add the olive oil sometimes. It tastes pretty good without. A sprinkle of garlic salt and thyme. Perfecto.
Thanks for sharing your tips, its tips like these that actually do make a difference to the individual readers of this blog. Thank you and well done.
WOW. Can’t believe I haven’t seen these until now.
Hi Mary! My favorite thing to do with cauliflower is boiling it until it’s fork tender, then letting it cool and putting it in the food processor with a little milk (I’m dairy-free, so I use soy milk), salt and pepper and making faux whipped potatoes. Delish!!! You should try it!
I have done that and while it’s good, I love roasted cauliflower so much better. :) Mashed cauliflower is a great first step to get someone to eat it though!
I totally forgot that I love roasted cauliflower, I’ve got to get this back on the menu at home.
I don’t really like cauliflower much. It’s just a “meh” taste to me. I have some other veggies to roast (I roast when I see I haven’t used up my veg and they start to go bad – a simple thing I learned from http://kathrynelliott.com.au/blog) so I’ll see if I can’t find a small one in my green grocer today. Thanks for the idea :)
I just can’t do it Mary, I just cannot bring myself to follow this recipe. I’ve tried cauliflower before and ugh – just.cannot.do.it. I’d rather eat your pictures…the pictures look divine!
Ooh, i’m eating this right now on your recommendation…super easy fast and delicious!!
Yay!! I’m glad you enjoyed it! :)