Spiced Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower in cumin, paprika, and turmeric, roasted until caramelized — meat-free and missed by no one.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 1 head Cauliflower
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- ¾ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric (optional)
- ½ Lemon (optional)
- 100 g Yogurt (optional)
- 2 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F).
- Break the cauliflower into even bite-size florets.
- Toss the florets on a sheet pan with the oil, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and salt until every floret is rusty gold.
- Roast the cauliflower cut-side down until caramelized and tender, about 22 minutes.
- Serve the cauliflower over a swoosh of yogurt with a squeeze of lemon and the cilantro.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Spiced Roasted Cauliflower
Spiced roasted cauliflower is a Middle Eastern–inflected side that treats a whole head of cauliflower to a hot oven and a rub of cumin, smoked paprika, and turmeric. Roasting is what transforms it: at a high temperature the florets caramelize, their edges turning deep rusty gold and their flavor going from raw and cabbagey to nutty and sweet. Laying the florets cut-side down on the sheet pan maximizes contact with the metal, which is the trick to real browning rather than pale steaming.
What you end up with is tender inside, crisp and caramelized outside, and warmly spiced throughout — vegan and light, yet substantial enough that no one misses meat at the table. Served over a swoosh of yogurt with a squeeze of lemon and a scatter of cilantro, it gains a cool, tangy counterpoint that plays against the toasty spice. It works as a side alongside grilled meats, grain bowls, or a mezze spread, and holds up well at room temperature for a buffet. The method is nearly hands-off once the pan goes in the oven, making it an easy addition to a larger meal.
Spiced Roasted Cauliflower: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Spiced Roasted Cauliflower?
One serving of Spiced Roasted Cauliflower has about 152 calories, with 3g of protein, 9g of carbs, 12g of fat and 4g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Spiced Roasted Cauliflower gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Spiced Roasted Cauliflower has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Spiced Roasted Cauliflower dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Yogurt. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Spiced Roasted Cauliflower take to make?
About 35 minutes start to finish, but only around 11 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Spiced Roasted Cauliflower?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out ground turmeric, lemon, yogurt — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Spiced Roasted Cauliflower make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.