The thing about eating vegetarian for Thanksgiving or Christmas (or any gathering, for that matter) is that you’re usually left with the side dishes. Because vegetables = side and meat = main, right? Not today! Today we’re making the ultimate whole roasted cauliflower. It’s pretty enough to be the main dish while being far more hands-off than a turkey ever would be (plus if you cross your eyes and lean back it looks a bit like a turkey too 😛). The concept is simple: brush the cauliflower with a flavorful combination of seasonings, bake to perfection, then slather it with whipped feta and herb sauce. It’s the kind of dish that’s great both for making a statement on the Thanksgiving table or just for celebrating that the week is half over. Let’s cook!
Ingredients for this whole roasted cauliflower
There are a few simple components for this whole roasted cauliflower, and they all come together into an explosion of flavor!
Cauliflower: A medium-sized head of cauliflower that’s free from blemishes or brown spots. Marinade: We’ll cover the cauliflower inside and out with a flavorful combination of olive oil, brown sugar, smoked paprika, curry powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sauces: To brighten up the cauliflower, we’ll serve it with two killer sauces – creamy whipped feta and herby chimichurri.
To make this whole roasted cauliflower, you’ll just brush the cauliflower all over with your flavor marinade and bake! Rather than fussing with changing temperatures or cover with foil while baking, just add water! As in, set a tray of water in the bottom of your oven while your cauliflower cooks. The result will be a tender cauliflower that’s cooked all the way through!
Variations on this whole roasted cauliflower
The flavors of this roasted cauliflower are ultra-flexible to your tastes or diet. Here are a few ways I’ve loved changing it up:
Make it vegan by omitting the whipped feta, using a vegan yogurt or cream in its place. Change up the sauces by using romesco sauce (for a smoky pepper flavor) or yum sauce (for a cheesy vegan flavor). Spice it up by adding a pinch of cayenne or harissa to the marinade.
Serve this cauliflower with our other vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Grapes Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad Mashed Butternut Squash (Sweet or Savory) Stuffed Acorn Squash Loaded Sweet Potato Rounds (with Cranberry and Goat Cheese)
