Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini and Spicy Herb Sauce

Whole roasted cauliflower with tahini and spicy herb sauce is flavorful, fun and easy to make. Roasted until golden brown and topped with a creamy tahini dressing and spicy herb sauce, it’s cauliflower like you’ve never had before!

The only reason to turn up your oven this summer is to make this whole roasted cauliflower! It’s cauliflower like you’ve never had before and just the look of it will have anyone you’re eating with so impressed!

Drizzled with a creamy tahini sauce and a slightly spicy green herb sauce, the flavors complement each other so perfectly. Topped with more fresh herbs and sliced chili peppers, I promise will make people who claim not to like cauliflower seriously change their tune.

Steaming and then roasting cauliflower at a high heat with oil and salt gives the outside of the cauliflower florets this amazing golden brown color and crispy texture that makes it super enjoyable to eat. Not your average roasted vegetable, that’s for sure!

I can’t wait for you to make it for yourself and would so appreciate your tagging me on Instagram if you do!

Ingredients for whole roasted cauliflower with tahini and spicy herb sauce

• head of cauliflower
• tahini
• lemon
• maple syrup
• fresh cilantro
• fresh parsley
• fresh mint
• fresh garlic
• garlic powder
• sumac
• cumin
• jalapeno
• olive oil
• avocado oil
• kosher salt
• salt and pepper

equipment/ utensils:

• baking sheet
• food processor
• whisk
• hand-held juicer

To make the tahini and spicy herb sauce

While the cauliflower is roasting in the oven prepare the sauces for the top.

For the tahini sauce you simply whisk all of the ingredients together until a creamy sauce forms. Add extra water one tablespoon at a time if the dressing needs to be thinned out more. Whisking in between each addition. You may feel like you’ve messed it up when the tahini looks really think and muddy, but keep whisking! Just after it looks like that it will start to become a silky smooth sauce.

For the spicy herb sauce you simply add all of the ingredients to a food processor and process until the sauce forms.

What’s also great about these sauces is that they’re super versatile. Use the tahini sauce as salad dressing and add the spicy herb sauce on top of chicken or fish. Store them separately in the fridge for up to a week.

Cauliflower Nutrition

Cauliflower is high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and potassium. It’s a cruciferous veggie which can sometimes cause gas a bloating especially if you’re not used to eating it that often. If that happens to you rather than banishing it from your diet forever, try eating it in smaller amounts and have it more frequently.

I’m sure by now you’ve seen just how popular has gotten in the last couple of years — cauliflower gnocchi, cauliflower mash, cauliflower pizza crust oh my! Brands are using it everywhere as a low carb alternative that has a similar texture to its regular counterpart. In my opinion some of these products are hit or miss. I’m a big fan of the cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s but not the pizza crust.

I think the push to get more veggies into your diet in creative ways is great, but not everything has to be made from cauliflower, you know?!

One things for sure this roasted cauliflower recipe will make you fall back in love with cauliflower in all it’s natural glory! It makes for a great side dish or can definitely be the star of the meal. You’ll feel like a culinary goddess when you plate it and top it with the sauces and definitely want to make it again and again!

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini and Spicy Herb Sauce

Maggie Michalczyk, RDN

Whole roasted cauliflower with tahini and spicy herb sauce is a dinner table stunner! The creamy tahini and spicy green herb sauce are the chefs kiss on top of the crispy whole roasted that's beautiful and delicious.

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Prep Time 12 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Servings 4 -5 servings

Equipment

• 1 cutting board
• 1 wire roasting rack
• 1 baking pan
• measuring cups
• 1 small mixing bowl

Ingredients

  

• for the cauliflower:
• 1 medium-sized head of cauliflower
• 3 tbsp. avocado oil
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• for the tahini dressing:
• 1/2 cup tahini
• juice of 1/2 of a lemon
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup water + more if needed to thin out the dressing
• for the spicy herb sauce:
• 1 cup parsley
• 1 cup cilantro
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 jalapeños deseeded
• splash of lemon juice
• 3/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. sumac
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions

 

• Fill a large pot with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Add the whole head of cauliflower and cover to steam for about 10-12 minutes. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Use tongs to lift the cauliflower out of the water and on to a baking sheet topped with a cooling rack. Placing the cauliflower on top of the rack allows for heat to circulate around the entire cauliflower.
• Top with avocado oil, and salt and place in the oven to roast for approximately 50-55 minutes until the florets are golden brown.
• While the cauliflower is roasting make the tahini sauce by whisking together all of the ingredients until a creamy, drippy sauce forms. Add 1 tbsp. of water at a time after the initial amount of water and whisk until the consistency is thin enough to drizzle.
• Next, prepare the spicy green herb sauce by adding all of the ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until well combined and set aside.
• Remove the cauliflower from the oven. Place on a dish or plate and drizzle with the tahini and then the spicy green sauce. Garnish with a dash of salt, fresh mint and sliced chili peppers if desired. Enjoy!

Keyword whole roasted cauliflower; cauliflower; tahini

more cauliflower recipes you’re sure to love:

• Cauliflower couscous salad with dates, parsley and almonds {GF & DF}
• Mexican cauliflower rice {GF}
• Chicken lettuce wraps with cauliflower & carrots {GF & DF}
• Pumpkin cauliflower mac & cheese {V}

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