whole Roasted cauliflower with chili oil

Baked cauliflower bathed in chili sauce, soy and maple syrup.

Whole roasted cauliflower is a delicious and healthy dish that can be served as a side or main course. It’s simple to make and requires minimal ingredients.

This recipe for whole roasted cauliflower is vegan, gluten-free, and completely delicious. It is easy, it is flavorful, it is SO good, and it is a must-try.

About this recipe

Can you believe that cauliflower is full of vitamin C? Who knew? Not only do lemons have vitamin C, which is why you must eat all kinds of vegetables.

This easy-to-make dish is an impressive centerpiece for any meal, combining the vegetable’s nutty flavor with the delicious roasting and the chili oil.

This dish is also a great way to get in your daily servings of vegetables, as the cauliflower is cooked entirely and left to soak up all the yummy flavors of the spicy dressing used.

This recipe is perfect for a healthy vegan or vegetarian meal; this whole roasted cauliflower is sure to be a showstopper every time.

roasted whole cauliflower recipe ingredients

  • Head of cauliflower, yes, an entire head of cauliflower
  • Avocado oil or other neutral-tasting oil you like to use
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Soy sauce or tamari sauce
  • Maple syrup
  • Sambal Oelek or other chili paste

FOR SERVING

  • Cilantro chopped
  • Scallions chopped
  • Peanuts chopped; you could also use cashews, almonds, or sesame seeds.

How to choose the best cauliflower?

Look for a firm, heavy head with bright white florets; choose a tightly packed head with no brown or black spots.

The leaves should be fresh and green ( you can eat them too). Give the head a sniff; it should smell fresh and slightly sweet.

how to make whole roasted cauliflower head?

  1. With a pairing knife, remove all the leaves surrounding the cauliflower.
  2. Turn the cauliflower head upside down, and cut the thick part of the stem with the pairing knife. Make sure you do not cut very deep; you don’t want to loosen up the florets. You need the tick part to keep it together.
  3. Season the inside and the outside of the cauliflower, the entire cauliflower, with the chili oil mix.
  4. Roast in a preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden and tender.
  5. Top with chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

tips & tricks

  • I love to use my cast iron skillet for this recipe, but you can use an ovenproof baking dish or a dutch oven.
  • Halfway through the cooking time, drizzle the sauce in the pan over the cauliflower as if you were basting it. You don’t want to lose all those juices and oils and flavor.
  • Use any cauliflower color or even romanesco broccoli will taste amazing.
  • This roasted cauliflower can be used as a side dish, main dish or appetizer.
  • Serve with steamed rice or fried rice, with spring rolls, quinoa, roasted potatoes or with basil lentils.
  • If the sauce sticks to the pan, soak the pan in water for a couple of hours.
  • If the cauliflower head is taking longer than expected to cook, cover the pan with foil for 10 minutes, uncover and let it roast.

Frequently asked questions

Other recipes that you may like:

Roasted cauliflower

Alejandra Graf
Baked cauliflower bathed in chili sauce, soy and maple syrup.
3 de 2 votos
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Vegetables
Cuisine Plant-based cusine
Servings 6 people
Calories 99 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cauliflower
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or other neutral tasting oil you like to use
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari sauce
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon sambal Oelek or other chili paste

for serving

  • cilantro chopped
  • scallions chopped
  • peanuts chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • With a paring knife or other small knife begin to cut the cauliflower greens. Cutting one at a time until you reach the stem of the cauliflower.
    Being careful not to cut more than needed, remove the thicker stem.
  • Put on the skillet or pan you will use with cut part down.
  • Mixing the remaining ingredients, cover the cauliflower with that mixture. Make sure all is well covered, use your hands to cover it very well and add the mix everywhere.
  • Put it in the oven for about 30 min. or until the top is golden and when pinched with a knife it is soft.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 197mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
Keyword roasted cauliflower tacos, spicy roasted cauliflower, whole roasted cauliflower

information

Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe?Tag @piloncilloyvainilla on Instagram and hashtag it #alecooks so we can all see your creations.
Alejandra Graf
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