• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

our recipesĀ + your inbox = the eatmail

Join now

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • About
  • Contact

Live Eat Learn

Easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time

free ebook

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • Recipe Index
  • Vegetarian 101
  • Travel
  • Meal Plans
  • Course
    • Breakfasts
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Appetizers
    • Sweets
    • Drinks
  • Diet
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Raw
    • Vegan
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Ingredient
    • Avocado
    • Bean
    • Cauliflower
    • Chickpeas
    • Eggplant
    • Mushroom
    • Tofu
    • Quinoa
    • View All
  • Collections
    • All Time Favorites
    • Air Frying
    • Budget Friendly
    • Comfort Food
    • High Protein
    • Meal Prep
    • Meatless Monday
    • View All
  • Visit our kombucha site
    Visit our dog food blog
Home Eat Dinners

Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower

5 from 5 votes
Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Sarah BondUpdated: Nov 18, 2022 7 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

Whole roasted cauliflower with orange background

Wow your guests with this Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower! Slathered in whipped feta and drizzled with herb sauce, this is a statement-making dish you’re really going to love.

Whole roasted cauliflower with orange background

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 😛).

Whole roasted cauliflower with orange background

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!

Marinated cauliflower on a plate with herb sauce and whipped feta cheese

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.
Cauliflower on an orange background

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, I picked up a simple tip for perfectly tender cauliflower from Minimalist Baker…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!

Whole roasted cauliflower with orange background

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.
Marinated cauliflower on a plate with herb sauce and whipped feta cheese

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)
Whole roasted cauliflower with orange background

Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower

5 from 5 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 377kcal
Servings: 6 servings
Print Rate
Wow your guests with this Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower! Slathered in whipped feta and drizzled with herb sauce, this is a statement-making dish I think you’re really going to love.

Ingredients

Cauliflower

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil 30 mL
  • 2 Tbsp water 30 mL
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar 20 g
  • 1 tsp each smoked paprika, curry powder, cumin, salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Whipped Feta

  • 8 oz room temperature feta cheese 226 g
  • 3 oz room temperature cream cheese 85 g

Herb Sauce

  • ½ cup packed fresh parsley can replace half with cilantro
  • ½ cup olive oil 118 mL
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice 15 mL
  • ¼ tsp salt

Garnish

  • Handful of pine nuts

Instructions 

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Trim the leaves and tough bottom stem from the cauliflower, being sure to leave the head intact. Whisk together all remaining "Cauliflower" ingredients. Flip the cauliflower upside down and pour half of the mixture into the cauliflower, tilting it around to evenly coat the inside. Brush the remaining marinade onto the outside.
  • Bake: 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 cauliflower hasn't become brown on the outside, switch oven to broil and cook for about 5 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
  • Sauces: While 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 "Herb Sauce" ingredients until smooth.
  • Serve: Place cauliflower on a serving tray. Serve warm, slathered with whipped feta, drizzled with herb sauce, and sprinkled with pine nuts.

Tips & Tricks

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.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 377kcal (19%) Carbohydrates: 8.3g (3%) Protein: 7.6g (15%) Fat: 36.5g (56%) Saturated Fat: 12.1g (76%) Cholesterol: 49mg (16%) Sodium: 966mg (42%) Potassium: 225mg (6%) Fiber: 1.5g (6%) Sugar: 5.7g (6%) Calcium: 221mg (22%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Pin on Pinterest

You may also like...

  • 17 Creative Cauliflower Recipes
  • This Roasted Asparagus with Smoky Romesco Sauce is a simple, flavor-packed recipe that is sure to brighten up your dinner table with! With just 1 pan and I'm 30 minutes you’ll have a show stopping side dish ready to go.
    Roasted Asparagus with Romesco Sauce
  • Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos
    Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos
  • Air fryer cauliflower on a blue plate with wooden spoons.
    20-Minute Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Florets
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Rate this Recipe:




  1. GW says

    Posted on 11/5 at 2:47 pm

    This looks awesome and so easy to make.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 11/5 at 4:57 pm

      It IS! šŸ˜€ Enjoy!!

  2. jan says

    Posted on 6/17 at 9:00 am

    The headline says cook for 1 hour 30 mins, the words say bake for 30-40 mins. How long should it bake for, please?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 6/17 at 9:54 am

      Thanks for pointing that out, Jan! It should be 30 to 40 minutes šŸ˜€

  3. Elaine says

    Posted on 9/6 at 4:25 pm

    It was a hit!5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 9/9 at 5:26 pm

      Yay! So happy to hear it, Elaine!

  4. amb says

    Posted on 1/10 at 7:20 am

    Absolutely delicious! This was the biggest hit at thanksgiving!5 stars

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hello

I'm Sarah

A flavor-loving nutritionist and sensory science specialist showing you how to make easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time.

Let's Meet

Freebie alert!

3 reader-favorite cookbooks delivered straight to your inbox.

Get in now!

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Plate full of crispy chickpeas with a wooden spoon.

15 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Personal size mozzarella pizza cooked in an air fryer

Air Fryer Pizza

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Brussels sprouts on a plate with wooden serving spoons.

The Best 15 Minute Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Kale chips on a white plate.

10 Minute Air Fryer Kale Chips

Dinner This Week

Vegan tikka masala with naan and rice in a white bowl

M

Chickpea Tikka Masala

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

T

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

Vegan Thai red curry in a bowl on a red background

W

Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry

Vegan nachos on a black plate on a white background - These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ "pulled pork" and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.

R

BBQ Mushroom Pulled Pork

Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos

F

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Lemon risotto in a bowl with basil on a yellow background

S

Lemon Basil Risotto

As featured on:

3 bonus books!

Join our Eatmail newsletter to get free copies of our top 3 cookbooks, new recipes, exclusive meal plans, and more!

Follow Along

  • Easy Vegetarian Facebook Group
  • Kombucha Brewers Facebook Group
Back to Top
  • Web Stories
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Collaborate
© 2023 Live Eat Learn
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Support by Foodie Digital
2.1K shares