Sharing today how to make lemon roasted cauliflower, a very simple cooking method that makes cauliflower taste absolutely delicious for whichever recipe you want to use it for!
If you think cauliflower is a tasteless vegetable, you have probably cooked it all wrong since the very beginning. Forget all these recipes telling you that the best cooking methods consist in boiling or steaming cauliflower. While these method work, they make cauliflower taste bland. Try instead to roast cauliflower in the oven, add a few lemons, and suddenly you enter a whole new world in which cauliflower actually tastes great!
Why roasting cauliflower?
I’ve been roasting cauliflower for years now, and it never ever disappointed me. This effortless method yields crispy and slightly charred cauliflower florets, subtly flavored with lemons. Simple, yet delicious!
What do you need to make lemon roasted cauliflower?
- Cauliflower. Obviously! You need one medium to large head of cauliflower, cut into florets. You can roast all the cauliflower parts if you want, including the tougher parts and the leaves.
- Lemons. You need 2 medium size lemons, halved, to roast alongside with the cauliflower, face down, until lightly golden.
- Olive oil. To coat the cauliflower florets before roasting.
- Salt and pepper. It’s a pretty basic seasoning, but I recommend freshly ground salt and pepper for best results.
- Possible add-ons. You can also add one or two cloves or garlic for more pungent flavors. Sometimes, I also add cumin seeds, and it makes the cauliflower taste amazing too.
Useful tips to roast cauliflower
Head to the recipe card below for the full recipe instructions. Roasting cauliflower with lemons is pretty straightforward and you can’t really go wrong doing it, as long as you follow a few guidelines:
- Break cauliflower florets into similar size (and same goes if using the other tougher parts of the cauliflower). This will ensure all bites roast evenly. You don’t want the small parts to burn while the bigger ones aren’t ready yet.
- Make sure the oven is fully preheated when adding the cauliflower florets.
- Leave some space between the florets when placing on the baking sheet. When too close to each other, the cauliflower bites tend to soften rather than being crispy and charred.
- Toss cauliflower florets halfway through baking, to ensure the bites roast on all sides.
- Use paper towel to squeeze the warm roasted lemons. You don’t want to burn yourself while doing it!
Recipe variations and serving suggestions
Most of the time, I roast cauliflower florets with just lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper. But you can easily add a few twists to the recipe, depending on the various uses. You can for instance add some cumin seeds or za’atar, or you can coat the cauliflower florets with warm spices (think paprika, turmeric or curry). They will bring additional flavors to your dish and make cauliflower even more enjoyable by the picky palates in your household.
There are many recipes that include lemon roasted cauliflower florets (see below). They’re perfect for serving as a side dish, tossing into a salad, a grain bowl, or a pasta. Otherwise, you can also eat straight off the baking sheet, sprinkled with fresh cilantro or fresh parsley. You could also dip your cauliflower florets in this vegan aioli sauce, this vegan spicy cashew sauce or this romesco sauce.
What to do with lemon roasted cauliflower?
- Lemon Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Sage
- Lemon Roasted Cauliflower and Halloumi Pita Pockets
- Vegetarian Cauliflower Burrito Bowl
- Curried Cauliflower Grilled-Cheese Sandwich
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Walnut-Caper Salsa
- Lemon Roasted Cauliflower Hummus
- Avocado, Beet and Roasted Cauliflower Bowls
More cauliflower recipes for you to try:
- Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Tacos with a Spicy Dressing
- To go further, check these 5 Fun & Healthy Ways To Cook with Cauliflower
How To Make Lemon Roasted Cauliflower
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Savory
- Diet: Vegan
Sharing today how to make lemon roasted cauliflower, a very simple cooking method that makes cauliflower taste absolutely delicious for whichever recipe you want to use it for!
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
- Olive oil, for roasting
- 2 lemons, halved
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper, minced garlic if using, and toss with 2 to 3 Tablespoons of olive oil (depending on the size of the cauliflower), until cauliflower is well coated.
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and add the lemon halves, placed face down on the sheet.
- Roast for about 40-45 minutes, or until the cauliflower is golden and lightly charred in some parts. Halfway through the cooking time, toss the cauliflower and press the lemons over the cauliflower florets (using paper towel to handle the lemon halves without burning yourself).
- Serve as is, with fresh cilantro or parsley, and maybe with some vegan aioli or romesco sauce.
Notes
* Lemon roasted cauliflower can be prepared with or without garlic, depending on your own tastes.
** If lemon roasted cauliflower florets are used in a recipe (let’s say a quinoa bowl), it can make up to 4 servings. If eaten as is, with some dressing of choice, it will yield 2 servings.
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this How To Make Lemon Roasted Cauliflower, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
