One evening, while out in East London, I stumbled upon a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fusion concept restaurant where I saw a whole roasted cauliflower served to diners. Intrigued, I tucked into the restaurant and ordered the dish for myself. The whole roasted cauliflower was yellow in color, nestled on atop a creme fraiche and lemon sauce, drizzled with pomegranate molasses and finished with a scattering of pomegranate seeds. It was a delightful dish, and after my first mouthful, I knew I had to create a version to have at home. This whole roasted cauliflower recipe has everything you’re looking for in a vegetarian main dish. It has fresh, bold, flavors, and a variety of textures. In my adaptation, I swapped the restaurant’s creme fraiche for a creamy whipped feta sauce. When the sauce is paired with the slightly charred cauliflower and the joyful bite of pomegranate seeds it’s heavenly. Whole roasted cauliflower is a showstopping vegetarian main, especially rounded out with filling and equally showy Persian Rice with Potato Tahdig. It also works as a side for chicken or fish like these baked lemon drumsticks or baked cod.
Ingredients for Whole Roasted Cauliflower
This recipe for a whole roasted cauliflower consists of 3 main parts: the saffron and turmeric infused roasted cauliflower, the feta and yogurt sauce flavored with lemon and garlic, and the pomegranate dressing. To finish it all off, I garnish this dish with fresh mint and pomegranate seeds.
Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower: Cauliflower is hearty and takes on flavoring very well, so it makes for a great vegetarian main–from this recipe to spicy cauliflower steaks to hearty Moroccan-Style Shaved Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad. Opt for a large, firm cauliflower with tightly packed florets without browning or blemishes. Saffron: Derived from the crocus flower, this vibrant red spice is often sold in dried strands, which are the stigma and styles of the flower. Saffron is expensive so you’ll want to make the most of it. To do so see “Tips for making Saffron Roasted Cauliflower” below on how to make your saffron goes further. If you’re curious about this elusive spice, learn all about saffron in our What Is Saffron? Essential Guide. Or if you already know you love it, you can find it at our shop and have it delivered directly to your door. Turmeric: This yellow spice gives delicious earthy tones to the cauliflower. Olive oil: Drizzle high-quality extra virgin olive oil over the cauliflower before roasting. Kosher salt: To season the cauliflower while cooking. Garlic: I add a roughly chopped clove to the water before boiling the cauliflower to let it infuse through. Bay leaf: Adds a floral, peppery profile without needing to add pepper, which would make the final dish less aesthetically pleasing.
Feta and Yogurt Sauce
I love a good sauce, it just brings so many elements together. In this case, the sauce is inspired by Suzy’s recipe for 5-minute creamy whipped feta dip but with the addition of a few extra ingredients. It’s one of those back-pocket recipes you can amend and adapt in so many ways. If you happen to have more sauce than you need, use it as a dip for veggies or thin it and drizzle over a salad.
Feta Cheese: Use good quality feta that’s been refrigerated in the brine. Do not use already crumbled feta, which is often too salty and dry to make creamy sauces. Greek yogurt: Plain, unflavored, whole milk Greek yogurt will help make the sauce creamy. Garlic: Two cloves minced or crushed garlic give just a subtle boost of flavor and heat. Lemon Zest and Juice: Lemon brightens the flavors and richness of the sauce. Extra Virgin Olive oil helps to create the smooth, velvety texture. Pepper: A little pepper adds one more pop of flavor. No salt needed because the feta will provide enough seasoning.
How to make Saffron Roasted Cauliflower
This recipe might look complicated with making a sauce and a dressing, but you make both while the cauliflower cooks so it comes together more quickly than you might expect. To make this whole roasted cauliflower recipe, I infuse the cauliflower with saffron and turmeric first then roast it in the oven until slightly charred. While the cauliflower is roasting in the oven, I whip up a lemony yogurt feta sauce. To put it all together, spoon the feta sauce onto a serving platter. Then, set the slightly charred cauliflower on top. To finish, I drizzle a simple pomegranate molasses dressing over the top and a sprinkle fresh mint.
Prepare the Cauliflower. Remove the larger tougher leaves from the cauliflower and trim the stalk a little. A few smaller leaves are fine to keep. Boil the Cauliflower. Fill a saucepan large saucepan with water. The pan should be large enough to fully submerge the cauliflower. Add kosher salt, turmeric, bloomed saffron, 2 bay leaves and a roughly chopped clove of garlic. Bring the cooking liquid to a boil and slowly and carefully lower the cauliflower into the saucepan. Cover the pan with the lid and cook for 10 minutes, just until tender. Make the Feta and Yogurt Sauce. While the cauliflower cooks, blend the feta, yogurt, crushed garlic, pepper, lemon zest and lemon juice in a food processor. While the processor is running, drizzle olive oil through the opening until the sauce is whipped to a smooth texture. Make the Pomegranate Dressing. Stir the pomegranate molasses, maple syrup and olive oil to make the dressing. Roast the Cauliflower. Once the cauliflower cooking time on the stove has finished, remove it from the pot and drain it well. Place the cauliflower on a foil-lined baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in a preheated oven (400°F) for approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Assemble the dish and serve. Spread the feta and yogurt sauce on a serving dish, place the roasted cauliflower on top and drizzle with the pomegranate dressing and extra olive oil. To finish the dish, scatter pomegranate seeds and freshly chopped mint as a garnish before serving.
Tips for making Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Grind and bloom the saffron. To get the best out of this expensive spice, grind the strands into a fine powder either in a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar. Once ground, use an 1/8 teaspoon of the powder and bloom it in 3 tablespoons of water. This process will draw the bright red hue and complex flavor from the spice far more effectively than using the strands. Use high quality and fresh ingredients. Good quality olive oil and feta are a must for this recipe, as are fresh ingredients such as the cauliflower. Use the cauliflower cooking time to make the sauces. Make the feta and yogurt sauce and the pomegranate dressing while the cauliflower is cooking. Check to see if the cauliflower is cooked. Insert a sharp knife gently into the middle of the cauliflower. If it’s tender, it’s cooked and ready for the next step.
What to Serve with Cauliflower
This dish is really a meal on it’s own. Enjoy with homemade pita bread to scoop up any leftover sauce. Think beyond weeknight dinner and serve this whole roasted cauliflower as part of a mezze-style offering with lots of other dishes for your guests to load their plates. I love eating this with a side of a hearty salad made with lentils or legumes such as Balela Salad, some crispy potatoes such as Crispiest Garlic Smashed Potatoes or even this fluffy and fragrant Saffron Rice.
More Vibrant Vegetarian Mains
Browse all Mediterranean recipes. Visit Our Shop.
Pide (Turkish Flatbread) with Feta, Spinach and Mushrooms
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Basil Vinaigrette
BEST Vegetarian Moussaka Recipe
Simple Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
