This Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Makes a Veggie the Main Event

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.