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    Home » Lunch and Dinner Recipes

    Best Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe with Garlic Cream Sauce

    Published: Nov 14, 2022 · Modified: Oct 3, 2023 by Kushi · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    With cheese topping, this easy, simple, spicy whole roasted cauliflower head served with garlic cream sauce is a showstopper at any dinner table.

    Roasted Cauliflower is one of the best meat substitutes for Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas holiday roast, or even at a Super Bowl football party to serve your vegetarian and vegan family or friends.

    Best whole roasted cauliflower head topped with cheese and garlic cream sauce.

    Jump to:
    • Roasted whole cauliflower head - best vegetarian meat alternative
    • Ingredients for roasted cauliflower head
    • How to roast whole cauliflower head?
    • Storage Suggestions
    • What to serve with roasted whole cauliflower?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More vegetarian dinner recipes for holidays
    • Recipe card
    • User Reviews

    Roasted whole cauliflower head - best vegetarian meat alternative

    The roasted cauliflower recipe would be one of the best additions to any meal, where meat eaters can have this as a side dish, and vegetarians can have this as a main course.

    The whole roasted cauliflower is crispy on the outside and tender with a melt-in-mouth texture on the inside. Serve this baked whole cauliflower with easy homemade garlic cream sauce, making the whole dish gluten-free, keto-friendly, and low-carb. You can also easily make it vegan with a few substitutions, which I have discussed below, so check them out! While you are here, also check out the healthy roasted cauliflower tikka recipe.

    Easy oven-roasted whole cauliflower head. Best Thanksgiving and Christmas vegetarian dinner.

    Ingredients for roasted cauliflower head

    To steam cauliflower

    Use bay leaf, small onion, ginger, garlic cloves, juice of lemon, and bouillon. You can skip adding bouillon if using any broth.

    For the spicy mix

    For the best flavor, use onion powder, garlic powder, red chile powder, salt, and tandoori masala (creole or curry powder).

    Other ingredients to roast a cauliflower head

    Butter and cheddar cheese make it rich and special for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

    For Garlic cream sauce

    Butter, garlic cloves, pepper flakes, heavy cream, Italian pizza seasoning, cheddar cheese, spring onions, and a pinch of salt.

    See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    Best spicy roasted cauliflower served with garlic cream sauce and buttermilk biscuits.

    How to roast whole cauliflower head?

    Steam whole cauliflower

    • Remove the leaves, cut the bottom flat, and nicely wash the cauliflower.
    • Add 1.5 to 2 liters of water in a pot along with ginger, onion, garlic cloves, lemon, and bouillon, along with the whole cauliflower head. Cover and steam it for 10 minutes.
    • Note: If you use vegetable/chicken broth instead of water, skip the above step. Bring the broth to a boil, place the cauliflower head over the trivet, and steam for 10 mins.
    stepswise images on showing how to steam / boil whole cauliflower head.

    Make the spicy mix

    • Add onion powder, garlic powder, red chile powder, salt, and tandoori masala (or any spice mix you choose) in a bowl. Mix the spices and keep this aside. You can store this in an air-tight container in a refrigerator and use it throughout the holiday season.
    • Add softened butter and the spice mix as needed from above in another bowl.
    stepwise image on showing the butter and spicy mix brushed on cauliflower head.

    Bake the best spicy roasted cauliflower.

    • Preheat the oven to 425 F. Transfer the steamed cauliflower to the baking pan.
    • Apply the spice mix over the cauliflower as much as possible. 
    • Bake it for about 12 to 15 minutes. Next, top it with cheddar or parmesan and bake for an additional 5 minutes if desired. Adding cheese is optional.

    How to make Garlic cream sauce?

    • Melt butter in a pan. Add garlic cloves and saute until lightly golden.
    • To this, add pepper flakes and heavy cream and bring it to a simmer.
    • Once the cream starts simmering, add Italian seasoning, cheese, a pinch of salt, and spring onions, and mix until the cheese is melted. Switch off the flame.
    stepwise image on making of garlic cream sauce.

    How to serve whole roasted cauliflower with sauce?

    • Transfer the roasted cauliflower head to the cutting board using a fork and spatula.
    • Cut them into steaks, rounds, wedges, pies, or any desired shape and size. Drizzle the cheesy garlic cream sauce and serve!

    Storage Suggestions

    If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for three days.

    Make ahead: You can also make this roasted cauliflower minus the cheese topping ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. Just reheat in the oven by following the instructions below. Then add cheese and bake for another 5 minutes so the cheese melts.

    Or you can even prepare the spice mix, steam the cauliflower, and keep it in the refrigerator. Next day, mix the spice powder and softened butter, spread it over the cauliflower, and bake as per instructions in the recipe.

    Reheating instructions: I agree it takes a lot of time, but I prefer reheating them in the oven to retain the texture of the cauliflower by covering it with aluminum foil and baking them at 350 degrees F or until heated through - it should take about 15 mins.

    Spiced whole roasted cauliflower vegetarian substitute for Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas roast.

    What to serve with roasted whole cauliflower?

    I love to serve roasted cauliflower with garlic cream sauce, buttermilk biscuits, or dinner rolls to suck up the gravy from the plate. Sometimes, I even try it with aioli. These combinations are the best option as an entree for a vegetarian meal.

    But you can also serve this as a side dish with steak, turkey, chicken, pork, or shrimp for your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

    Whole roasted cauliflower steaks. Best vegetarian dinner recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Recipe FAQs

    How to choose cauliflower while making roasted cauliflower?

    Always use cauliflower that is nice, fresh, firm, and closely packed florets. Otherwise, they may fall apart.

    How to make vegan roasted cauliflower?

    To make this recipe vegan, use olive oil or coconut oil instead of butter. Use vegan cheese in place of cheddar cheese. Use cashew cream or soy-based cream to prepare the cream sauce. All other ingredients remain the same.

    Why is my roasted cauliflower tough?

    Overcooking the cauliflower makes it mushy, but undercooking is also not good. It may look crispy on the outside but remains tough and uncooked inside. So the best way is to steam it and then bake it.

    What to do when the cauliflower has black spots or small bugs/worms?

    Especially if you use organic cauliflowers, soak the cauliflower head/florets in salt water for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking. Soaking in salted water will remove any worms or bugs found in organic vegetables. Just rinse it under cool running water before cooking.

    More vegetarian dinner recipes for holidays

    You can make some of the best dinner casseroles for your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

    • Best loaded cauliflower casserole or cheesy cauliflower bake - easy side dish for vegetarian dinner.
      Loaded Cauliflower Casserole | Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
    • green bean casserole recipe from scratch with fresh beans, and fried onions, without mushroom soup
      Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe | Thanksgiving and Christmas Green Beans
    • cheesy corn casserole served in a baking pan along with a slice of toasted bread.
      Baked Corn Cheese Casserole | Cheesy Creamed Corn
    • easy, low carb, and healthy, best cheesy eggplant casserole recipe - vegetarian
      Easy Eggplant Casserole Recipe - Vegetarian

    Did you like this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

    Recipe card

    best, easy, spicy whole roasted cauliflower head with sauce for thanksgiving, Christmas dinner.

    Best Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe with Garlic Cream Sauce

    Kushi
    With cheese topping, this easy and simple whole roasted cauliflower head served with garlic cream sauce is a showstopper at any dinner table.
    Roasted Cauliflower is one of the best meat substitutes for Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas or Holiday roast, or even as a finger food at a Super Bowl football party to serve your vegetarian and vegan family or friends.
    5 from 30 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish, sides
    Cuisine American, Indian, North America
    Servings 8
    Calories 132 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Baking pan
    • 1 Pot with lid

    Ingredients
      

    To steam cauliflower

    • 1 Medium to Large Cauliflower head
    • 2 Bay leaf
    • 1 Small onion, roughly chopped
    • 1 inch Ginger sliced or crushed
    • 3 to 4 Garlic cloves
    • Juice of 1 lemon
    • 1 Bouillion (skip if using broth)

    For the spicy mix (adjust to taste, the extra seasoning can be stored in airtight conatiner)

    • 1 tablespoon Onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
    • ½ tablespoon Red chile powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • 2 tablespoon Tandoori curry or Creole powder

    Other ingredients

    • ¼ cup Butter, softened
    • ¼ cup Cheddar, optional 25 grams

    For Garlic cream sauce

    • 2 tablespoon Butter
    • 6 to 8 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes
    • 1 cup Heavy cream (approx 200 ml)
    • 1 teaspoon Italian pizza seasoning
    • 2 to 4 tablespoon Cheddar cheese, grated
    • 1 tablespoon Spring onions
    • Salt, a pinch

    Instructions
     

    How to steam whole cauliflower?

    • Remove the leaves, cut the bottom flat, and nicely wash the cauliflower.
      1 Medium to Large Cauliflower head
    • Add 1.5 to 2 liters of water in a pot along with ginger, onion, garlic cloves, lemon, and bouillon, along with the whole cauliflower head. Cover and steam it for 10 minutes.
      2 Bay leaf, 1 Small onion, roughly chopped, 1 inch Ginger sliced or crushed, 3 to 4 Garlic cloves, Juice of 1 lemon, 1 Bouillion (skip if using broth)
    • Note: If you use vegetable/chicken broth instead of water, skip the above step. Bring the broth to a boil, place the cauliflower head over the trivet, and steam for 10 mins.

    Making the spicy mix

    • Add onion powder, garlic powder, red chile powder, salt, and tandoori masala (or any spice mix you choose) in a bowl. Mix the spices and keep this aside. You can store this in an air-tight container in a refrigerator and use it with meat, veggies, or seafood throughout the holiday season.
      1 tablespoon Onion powder, 1 tablespoon Garlic powder, ½ tablespoon Red chile powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, 2 tablespoon Tandoori
    • Add softened butter and the spice mix as needed from above in another bowl. Add all the spice mix from above and mix well for a strong flavor. For milder flavor, add 2 tbsp.
      ¼ cup Butter, softened

    Bake the best spicy roasted cauliflower

    • Preheat the oven to 425 F. Transfer the steamed cauliflower to the baking pan.
    • Apply the spice mix over the cauliflower as much as possible. 
    • Bake it for about 12 to 15 minutes. Next, top it with cheddar or parmesan and bake for an additional 5 minutes if desired. Adding cheese is optional.
      ¼ cup Cheddar, optional

    How to make garlic cream sauce?

    • Melt butter in a pan. Add garlic cloves and saute until lightly golden.
      2 tablespoon Butter, 6 to 8 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
    • To this, add pepper flakes and heavy cream and bring it to a simmer.
      ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes, 1 cup Heavy cream (approx 200 ml)
    • Once the cream starts simmering, add Italian seasoning, cheese, a pinch of salt, and spring onions, and mix until the cheese is melted. Switch off the flame.
      1 teaspoon Italian pizza seasoning, 2 to 4 tablespoon Cheddar cheese, grated, 1 tablespoon Spring onions, Salt, a pinch

    How to serve whole roasted cauliflower wth sauce?

    • Transfer the roasted cauliflower head to the cutting board using a fork and spatula.
    • Cut them into steaks, rounds, wedges, pies, or any desired shape and size. Drizzle the cheesy garlic cream sauce and serve!

    Video

    Notes

    Storage Suggestions

    If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for three days.
    Make ahead: You can also make this roasted cauliflower minus the cheese topping ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. Just reheat in the oven by following the instructions below. Then add cheese and bake for another 5 minutes so the cheese melts. Or you can even prepare the spice mix, steam the cauliflower, and keep it in the refrigerator. Next day, mix the spice powder and softened butter, spread it over the cauliflower, and bake as per instructions in the recipe.
    Reheating instructions: I agree it takes a lot of time, but I prefer reheating them in the oven to retain the texture of the cauliflower by covering it with aluminum foil and baking them at 350 degrees F or until heated through - it should take about 15 mins.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 132kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 316mgPotassium: 303mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 474IUVitamin C: 41mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Note: We originally posted this whole oven-roasted cauliflower recipe with measurements for spicy mix for making two cauliflower heads in Nov 2022. It has now been modified in Oct 2023 to 1 cauliflower head. Use the stepwise image for reference only. Refer to the recipe card for updated recipe measurements.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      November 17, 2023 at 4:32 pm

      5 stars
      MmmMM! This is going to be so good with our turkey this year!

      Reply
    2. Kate

      November 17, 2023 at 4:57 pm

      5 stars
      I love how tender it gets! Absolutely delish way to prepare cauli! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Justine

      November 17, 2023 at 5:06 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! Not only did this look incredible, it tasted amazing!

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    5 from 30 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Sridevi! I am a Software Engineer by qualification, a full-time Food Blogger by passion, a self-published Author, and a happy person two kids (monsters) ago.

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