Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Butter Sauce Recipe
A delicious and visually impressive whole roasted cauliflower recipe cooked in the oven and topped with a flavorful butter sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. This recipe is perfect as a vegetarian main or side dish and can be easily adapted for vegan diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Vegetarian Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower
- 1 medium-large head of cauliflower
Butter Sauce & Seasoning
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt, to taste
- ¼ tsp pepper, to taste
Toppings
- 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the cauliflower.
- Prepare Cauliflower: Remove the bottom leaves and trim as much of the thick white stalk as possible from the cauliflower head, keeping it whole.
- Make Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, olive or avocado oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well blended.
- Brush Cauliflower: Place the cauliflower core side down in a Dutch oven or baking dish. Brush the butter mixture evenly all over the surface of the cauliflower.
- Initial Bake: Cover the cauliflower with aluminum foil or parchment paper and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to start the roasting process and ensure tenderness.
- Continue Baking: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes, allowing the cauliflower to begin browning and drying out slightly.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese on top of the cauliflower evenly.
- Broil for Color: Adjust the oven to high broil setting and roast for 3-5 minutes more, until the cauliflower develops a golden brown color and the cheese melts.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve alongside your favorite protein or as a vegetarian main dish.
- Optional Variations: For a spicy flavor, replace Italian seasoning with taco seasoning or add red pepper flakes. For a vegan version, substitute butter with olive oil and use 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Ensure the cauliflower is thoroughly coated with the butter mixture for maximum flavor.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the cauliflower; test for tenderness by inserting a knife or skewer.
- Covering the cauliflower initially helps it cook evenly and retain moisture.
- Broiling at the end adds a desirable golden crust and enhances flavor.
- For vegan adaptation, nutritional yeast provides a cheesy flavor without dairy.
- You can serve this dish as a side or a main for vegetarians.
Keywords: roasted cauliflower, butter sauce, baked cauliflower, vegetarian recipe, easy side dish, parmesan cauliflower
