top of page
Writer's pictureJulia Winnicki

New Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower with Salsa Verde

Cauliflower shines when paired with boldly flavored ingredients like capers, garlic and miso. In this recipe, I incorporated these ingredients into a bright salsa Verde, which I spoon over simply roasted cauliflower.


Roasted cauliflower with salsa Verde

However, roasting the cauliflower to achieve perfectly caramelized vegetables which are not dried out turned out to be not such a simple task. The standard method of separating the cauliflower into florets and roasting them at 450 degrees yielded pale dried out florets with only some browned spots, so I had to find another way.

And I did! For this recipe I adapted the roasting method from Cook's Illustrated, which worked just perfectly. Roasting vegetables is all about caramelizing sugars to produce big flavor. Since browning takes place only where the vegetables come in contact with the hot pan, I sliced the cauliflower into eight wedges, creating more flat surface area than you'd get with florets. Covering cauliflower with foil for the first 10 minutes prevents it from drying out, and flipping each side halfway through roasting ensures even cooking and color.


Topping the cauliflower with salsa Verde adds some bold flavors creating a perfectly balanced dish. It can be served as an entree or an appetizer, warm or at room temperature. All our tasters really enjoyed it, so it is definitely a crowd pleaser.


Of course, you can use any topping or seasonings you like, so be creative, try it out!

Roasted cauliflower with salsa Verde

Roasted Cauliflower with Salsa Verde

 




Source: Cook's Illustrated, Better Vegan  Category: Vegan Entrees & Sides
Prep Time: 15 min  Cook time: 40 min  Total Time: 55 min  Serves 4-6
Gluten Free I Refined Sugar Free

 

Ingredients:


Cauliflower:

1 head cauliflower (about 2 pounds)

2 Tbsp. cup avocado oil (I use La Tourangelle Avocado Oil)

Black pepper

Salsa Verde:

1 bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. capers, drained and chopped (try Imported Non Pareil Capers in Vinegar and Salt Brine)

1/2 tsp. miso paste

1 shallot, finely diced

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (or enough to cover) (I use Newman's Own Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 Tbsp.)

Pink Himalayan salt

Black pepper


Instructions:

1. Prepare the ingredients.

​2. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Trim outer leaves of cauliflower and cut stem flush with bottom of head. Cut head into 8 equal wedges, keeping core and florets intact. Place wedges cut side down on parchment paper–lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons avocado oil and season with salt and pepper to taste; rub gently to distribute oil and seasonings.

​3. Cover sheet tightly with parchment paper, then aluminum foil and cook for 10 minutes. Remove foil and parchment paper and continue to roast until bottoms of cauliflower wedges are golden, about 13 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and, using spatula, carefully flip wedges. Return sheet to oven and continue to roast until cauliflower is golden all over, about 13 minutes longer.

4. While cauliflower is roasting, prepare salsa Verde by mixing all salsa ingredients together, stirring well to combine. 

5. When cauliflower is ready, season it with salt and pepper to taste, cut into smaller pieces, if desired, transfer to platter, drizzle with salsa Verde, and serve.


 

Notes:

Roasting cauliflower for 13 minutes produced pretty good caramelization and browning, but if you would like it to be deeper, increase roasting time to 15 minutes per side.

 

Equipment needed:


 

Serving suggestion:

Serve on its own or with a side of vegan mashed potatoes or your favorite gluten-free whole grain. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

Happy cooking!


Julia


Other recipes added this week:




This post contains affiliate links to Amazon which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. You will pay the same price as you normally would on Amazon and you can still use your Prime account. This small contribution will help us support this site and bring you more delicious clean vegan recipes that you and your family will enjoy. Thank you for your support!

51 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page