Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (2024)

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by Michelle Tam

4.75 from 94 votes

Published Oct 27, 2023

Updated Nov 30, 2023

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Whole roasted cauliflower is a delicious, Whole30-friendly, keto, and vegan side dish! Plus, this recipe only uses 3ingredients!

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (2)

Table of Contents

  • A foolproof whole roasted cauliflower recipe!
  • Ingredients
  • How to make whole roasted cauliflower
  • How to save leftovers
  • More cauliflower recipes
    • PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
  • Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

A foolproof whole roasted cauliflower recipe!

Haven’t yet spotted roasted whole cauliflower on a restaurant menu? Trust me: you will soon. Gorgeously crusted on the outside, tender on the inside, this visually striking preparation of a whole head of cauliflower is popular among chefs for a host of reasons: it’s budget-friendly, ridiculously simple to make, and guaranteed to impress guests either as a centerpiece or side. Even your vegetarian friends will dig it!

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (3)

Personally, I like to season a whole roasted cauliflower head with just salt and olive oil so that it’s a blank slate that can be paired with my favorite sauces and herbs. With five roasted heads sitting in my fridge right now, I’m definitely going to be using a bunch of different flavor boosters, from pesto to marinara sauce.

Why so much leftover cauliflower? ’Cause this past week, I’ve been in the thick of testing this recipe. I tried a myriad of different techniques that I’d found on the web and in my cookbook collection to see which method delivered the biggest bang for the least amount of work.

I used different techniques to prepare each cauliflower head—boiling the cauliflower first (too much work), roasting it in a preheated skillet with a separate pan of water in the oven (great crust, but not quite tender enough inside), and roasting it in a covered Dutch oven for the first hour (overly mushy and inconsistent browning on the outside)—until I came up with a crazy-easy method that results in a perfectly bronzed crust and tender center.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (4)

See? Testing pays off!

Ingredients

  • Whole cauliflower head: Don’t pick a super big one, a 2 pound one is perfect for this recipe!
  • Extra virgin olive oil: You can also use melted ghee, avocado oil, or your favorite fat of choice.
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt

How to make whole roasted cauliflower

Preheat the oven to 375°F and place a rack in the middle position. Trim away the leaves at the bottom of the cauliflower head. Carefully cut off and remove the stem and tough core, but be careful to keep the head intact.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (5)

With your hands, rub the oil on the surface of the entire head of cauliflower (both top and bottom) until the cauliflower is well coated.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (7)

Sprinkle both sides of the cauliflower liberally with salt. Make it rain!

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Place the cauliflower florets-side up on a cast iron skillet, and cover tightly with aluminum foil.

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Put the skillet on the middle rack in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes, covered.

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Remove the foil from the skillet…

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…and roast for an additional hour in the oven. Once the cauliflower is golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside, take it out of the oven. A knife should slide in and out without any resistance.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (12)

Transfer the cauliflower head to a platter.

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Carve and serve as-is, or drizzle on your favorite sauce or lemon juice and fresh herbs.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (14)

Not too shabby for a three-ingredient recipe! It’s fancy enough for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or humble enough for a weeknight side!

How to save leftovers

You can save leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. I wouldn’t freeze the leftovers because the roasted cauliflower can get a little mushy when you thaw it from the freezer.

More cauliflower recipes

  • Baked Buffalo Cauliflower
  • Tandoori Whole Roasted Cauliflower
  • Mexican Cauliflower Rice
  • Cauliflower Colcannon
  • Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Roasted Curried Cauliflower

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).

PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (15)

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

4.75 from 94 votes

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Total Time2 hours hrs

Servings 4 servings

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (16)

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Whole roasted cauliflower is a delicious, Whole30-friendly vegan dish. It’s also budget-friendly, easy to make, and guaranteed to impress your guests!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F and place a rack in the middle position. Trim away the leaves at the bottom of the cauliflower head. Carefully cut off and remove the stem and tough core, but be careful to keep the head intact.

  • Rinse and pat dry the trimmed cauliflower head. Then drizzle olive oil or melted ghee all over it.

  • With your hands, rub the oil on the surface (both top and bottom) until the cauliflower is well coated.Season both sides of the cauliflower liberally with salt. Make it rain!

  • Place the cauliflower florets-side up on a cast iron skillet, and cover tightly with aluminum foil.Put the skillet on the middle rack in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes, covered.

  • Remove the foil from the skillet,and roast for an additional hour in the oven. Once the cauliflower is golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside, take it out of the oven. A knife should slide in and out without any resistance.

  • Transfer the cauliflower head to a platter.Carve and serve as-is, or drizzle on your favorite sauce and fresh herbs.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 27g | Fiber: 3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Egg-Free Keto Low Carb Nightshade-Free Nut-Free (not including coconut) Recipes Vegan Vegetarian Veggies Whole30

About Michelle Tam

Hello! My name is Michelle Tam, and I love to eat. I think about food all the time. It borders on obsession. I’ve always loved the sights and smells of the kitchen. My mother was (and is) an excellent cook, and as a kid, I was her little shadow as she prepared supper each night. From her, I gained a deep, abiding love for magically transforming pantry items into mouth-watering family meals.

Read More About Me

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33 Comments

  1. Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (22)
    This was amazing! Used both Olive Oil and Ghee and then generously used Maldon salt. Nothing else was needed!

    Reply

  2. Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (23)
    Made it for dinner tonight was delish so easy to make looked great too we ate it before I could take a picture. No leftovers either. Yum yum eat em all up🤣❤️

    Reply

  3. Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (24)
    So tasty and never have any leftovers. I follow the directions exactly but use a small sheet pan instead of cast iron. Another fabulous recipe.

    Reply

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Whole30, Keto, Vegan) (2024)

FAQs

How many net carbs are in roasted cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower is actually quite similar to broccoli in that it has a very reasonable 1.5 net carbs per half cup.

How healthy is roasted cauliflower? ›

When it comes to nutrition, cauliflower is a superstar. It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium.

Why is my roasted cauliflower tough? ›

Have you roasted cauliflower before and it came out tough or mushy? A common problem is either roasting it at too low a temperature or stopping once the cauliflower is tender—both mean that the florets do not caramelize.

How do you cook Buddakan curried cauliflower? ›

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Combine the cauliflower, 1/2 tsp madras curry powder, garlic powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric, salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl and mix well. Spread the cauliflower in a single layer onto a large baking pan. Roast until golden and tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Do you count cauliflower carbs on keto? ›

Cauliflower has a similar nutrition profile to broccoli. It's also a great cruciferous veggie to choose when you're on keto, says Dixon, as it has 1.5 grams of net carbs per half a cup.

Why is cauliflower crust so high in carbs? ›

A single slice could have anywhere from 2 to 29 grams. That's a huge range, especially because cauliflower isn't carb-heavy (a cup has 5 grams). Why the difference? Crusts may include rice or brown rice flour, sugar, tapioca starch, and corn starch, which supply carbs.

Which is healthier, broccoli or cauliflower? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

Does roasting cauliflower remove nutrients? ›

How you cook cauliflower matters. You can keep more of its nutrients if you steam, roast, or stir-fry it. But boiling it can lower the levels of its B vitamins, vitamin C, and magnesium.

What color cauliflower is healthiest? ›

Purple. Purple cauliflower is the healthiest option, with numerous advantages. The purple hue is due to the antioxidants called anthocyanins. These are the pigments present in various other plants and plant-based products, including red cabbage and red wine.

Why isn't my roasted cauliflower crispy? ›

Like all veggies, cauliflower needs some breathing room on the pan. Otherwise, the florets will produce so much steam that they'll never turn crisp on the edges. It's better to use two pans, arranged on separate racks near the middle of the oven, than to cram too much onto one pan.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda – I've said it before and I'll most likely say it again…a pinch of this stuff will help break down your cauliflower and make it blend up into a velvety dream. Scallions – Because a little cooked onion (of any kind) makes for a solid base for any savory dish. Also they make for a pretty garnish.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

How to cook cauliflower Rachael Ray? ›

In a covered Dutch oven, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Cut the core away from the cauliflower and set the head into the pot and add the stock. Cover and steam until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove and separate the cauliflower into florets.

What is the best way to cook cauliflower without losing nutrients? ›

Steaming and microwaving cauliflower will better preserve its vitamin content, especially the B vitamins, than if it is boiled. To microwave: Put 2 cups of florets in a shallow microwavable dish, or cover a whole head of cauliflower with plastic wrap.

How many net carbs in 1 cup of cooked cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup (1" pieces)
Protein (g)1.14
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)2.55
Energy (kcal)14.26
Sugars, total (g)0.87
Fiber, total dietary (g)1.67
34 more rows

How many carbs are in crispy cauliflower? ›

Habitant Crispy Cauliflower (1 serving) contains 26g total carbs, 16g net carbs, 34g fat, 15g protein, and 440 calories.

Can you eat cauliflower on a low carb diet? ›

Cauliflower is another vegetable that's low in carbs, but also very high in vitamins and phytochemicals,” Fear says. Add chopped cauliflower to your salads, or top with paprika and garlic powder and roast in the oven. Riced cauliflower also makes a great low-carb replacement for traditional rice.

How many net carbs are in a whole head of cauliflower? ›

Popular Serving Sizes of Cauliflower
Net Carbs(g)Fiber(g)
1 small head7.446.6
1 medium head16.0814.4
1 large head23.5221.0
1/2 cup1.451.2
3 more rows

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