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Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe With Whipped Feta Sauce

This Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Makes a Veggie the Main Event

roasted whole cauliflower recipe: finished

If you're not turning it into a low-carb pizza crust or substituting it for rice, cauliflower is almost always served as a side dish. Most recipes call for steaming or baking it, and the seasoning is usually as simple as salt and pepper, garlic and parmesan, or even just butter. Though these are perfectly tasty ways to enjoy cauliflower, the truth is that with the right recipe, the vegetable can also work as the main course.

Originally shared by chef and nutritionist Sarah Bond, creator of Live Eat Learn, this particular recipe calls for roasting whole cauliflower and slathering it in a marinade, similar to how you would with meat. The combination of olive oil and brown sugar allows the top to get browned and lightly crispy while in the oven, and the addition of smoked paprika, curry powder, and cumin gives the otherwise bland cauliflower some extra zest. You can easily serve the cauliflower just like this, but if you want to take the flavor to the next level, Live Eat Learn recommends layering on whipped feta and chimichurri once it's roasted.

Whipped feta is pretty much exactly what it sounds like — you blend feta cheese in a food processor, and in this case you also add cream cheese until the two come together to form the first layer of sauce. To cut the heaviness of the whipped feta, a chimichurri made with fresh parsley, jalapeño, and lemon juice makes up the second layer. The combination of these two sauces results in a savory flavor profile that really upgrades the taste of the cauliflower. This method gives the cauliflower a contrasting texture that's toasted on the outside but soft on the inside and turns the vegetable into a satisfying main dish. To learn how to make it, read on for all the steps.

roasted whole cauliflower recipe: ingredients

roasted whole cauliflower recipe: seasoning

roasted whole cauliflower recipe: whipped feta sauce

roasted whole cauliflower recipe: finished

roasted whole cauliflower recipe: finished and plated

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Reposted with permission from Live Eat Learn

Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe With Whipped Feta Sauce

Ingredients

  1. For the cauliflower:
    1 head cauliflower
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    2 tablespoons water
    2 tablespoons brown sugar
    1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    1 teaspoon curry powder
    1 teaspoon cumin
    1 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  1. For the whipped feta:
    8 ounces room-temperature feta cheese
    3 ounces room-temperature cream cheese
  1. For the chimichurri:
    1/2 cup packed fresh parsley or cilantro
    1/2 cup olive oil
    2 cloves garlic
    1 jalapeño pepper, deseeded
    1 tablespoon lemon juice
    1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Trim the leaves and tough bottom stem from the cauliflower, being sure to leave the head intact. Whisk together the olive oil, brown sugar, water, smoked paprika, curry powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Flip the cauliflower upside down (stem side up), and pour half of the mixture into the cauliflower, tilting it around to evenly coat the inside. Brush the remaining marinade onto the outside.
  2. Set a pan filled with water in the bottom of the oven, which will steam and tenderize the cauliflower. Place the cauliflower stem side down onto a baking sheet or pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cauliflower is easily pierced with a fork. If the cauliflower hasn't become brown on the outside, switch the oven to broil and cook for about five minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
  3. While the cauliflower cooks, add feta and cream cheese to a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Remove from processor, wipe it clean, then blend the chimichurri ingredients (fresh parsley or cilantro with olive oil, garlic, jalapeno, lemon juice, and salt) until smooth.
  4. Place the cauliflower on a serving tray. Serve warm, slathered with whipped feta, drizzled with herb sauce, and sprinkled with pine nuts (optional). Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories per serving
377
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kalea Martin
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