My Cooking Trick for Making Cauliflower Taste "So Good"
I’m a fan of taking something that can usually be a little meh and making it something that’s incredibly special and delicious. And that’s exactly what I did when creating this caramelized cauliflower. It’s the most flavorful cauliflower you’ll ever have — and best of all, it comes together with just a few ingredients.
For this, I toss cauliflower with melted butter that’s infused with smoked paprika and minced garlic, which adds an immense amount of flavor without too much extra work. A generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese adds a touch of saltiness and a subtle nutty flavor, complementing the slight sweetness of the roasted cauliflower. Whether it’s served warm or slightly cooled, this caramelized cauliflower is my go-to side dish of the season.
Why You’ll Love It
A total cauliflower transformation! With just a few ingredients, you can turn ordinary cauliflower into something filled with cheesy, salty, garlicky goodness.
High heat = more flavor. Roasting the cauliflower at high heat allows for crispy bits and caramelization, adding texture and delicious flavor.
Key Ingredients in Caramelized Cauliflower
Smoked paprika: This pantry spice complements the sweetness of the cauliflower while adding a hint of smokiness and earthy flavor.
Cauliflower: Cauliflower is the perfect blank canvas. Its mild taste and slightly sweet, nutty flavor is ideal for absorbing flavor.
Garlic: Brings savory notes to this flavorful side dish.
How to Make Caramelized Cauliflower
Heat the oven and make infused butter. Heat the oven to 425ºF. Stir melted unsalted butter, minced garlic, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, and kosher salt together in a large bowl.
Prep cauliflower. Cut cauliflower into 1 1/2-inch florets. Add to the butter mixture and gently toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and toss again. Transfer to the baking sheet and arrange into a single layer.
Bake. Bake cauliflower for 20 minutes, then toss and spread into an even layer. Continue to bake until cauliflower is browned in spots and crisp around the edges.
Garnish and serve. Garnish with coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves and more grated Parmesan if desired. Serve with lemon wedges if you like.
Caramelized Cauliflower Recipe
This crispy, cheesy cauliflower is seriously so good.
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes to 35 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 medium head cauliflower (about 1 pound, 6 ounces)
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup), plus more for garnish
Coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)
Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
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Heat the oven to 425ºF. Meanwhile, stir 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt together in a large bowl.
Trim the stems and core from 1 medium head cauliflower. Cut the florets into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups). Add to the butter mixture and gently toss until the cauliflower is evenly coated.
Sprinkle with 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup), and toss again until evenly coated. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and arrange into a single layer.
Bake for 20 minutes. Toss the cauliflower and arrange back into a single layer. Bake until the cauliflower is browned in spots and crisp around the edges, about 15 minutes more. Let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves and more grated Parmesan if desired. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Recipe Notes
Substitutions: Regular paprika can be substituted for smoked paprika.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the 425ºF oven for 10 minutes, or in the microwave for 1 minute.
Further Reading
The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About
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Reese’s Just Launched a Limited-Edition Peanut Butter Cup, and It Tastes 4x Better than the Original
