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Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pistachios and Cranberries

Roasted cauliflower half face down sprinkled with cranberries, pistachios, and chopped rosemary.

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This whole roasted cauliflower recipe is delicious on it's own but is elevated with an easy pistachio, lemon, and dried cranberry "gremolata" like garnish.

Ingredients

Whole Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients

  • 1 whole cauliflower
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • black pepper

Pistachio and Lemon Garnish Ingredients

  • zest from 1 lemon
  • juice from ½ lemon
  • ½ cup (2 ounces), roasted and salted shelled pistachios - chopped or smashed
  • ¼ cup (1 ounce), cranberries
  • 1 Tbsp rosemary, chopped
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions

Make the Pistachio and Lemon Garnish

  • Place the nuts in a small ziplock bag and smash them into large chunks with the back of a large spoon.
  • Zest the lemon and place in a small bowl.  Juice half of that lemon and place in bowl with zest.
  • Add pistachios, cranberries, rosemary, olive oil, salt, and pepper to the bowl and mix.
  • Add more salt and lemon juice to taste.
  • This tastes best if it rests at least 30 minutes and is even better the next day.

Make the Roasted Whole Cauliflower

  • Preheat oven to 425F.
  • Add 1 ½ inches to a large pot of water and bring to a simmer.
  • Level stem of cauliflower with a knife and remove any tough leaves.
  • Place whole cauliflower in simmering water covered and cook for 7-9 minutes depending on size of cauliflower.
  • Remove cauliflower and let cool 10 minutes on an elevated wire rack on a sheet pan lined with parchment or aluminum foil (for easy clean up).
  • Rub cauliflower with olive oil and add salt and pepper.
  • Bake ~ 30 - 35 minutes depending on size or until browned and caramelized on the top and a fork goes easily through the top.
  • Quarter it and slather on the pistachio, lemon, and herb garnish. Add salt to taste. Happy eating! beckie

Notes

  • Larger cauliflower heads need to be boiled for 9-10 minutes in 2" of water.
  • Smaller cauliflower heads need 7-8 minutes boiled in 1 ½" of water.
  • If the whole cauliflower is not browning then bring the temperature of your oven up to 450F.
  • If the cauliflower is browning to fast, drop the temperature of your oven to 375F or 400F.
  • Flip the sheet pan in the oven half way through if one side of your oven cooks faster than the other side.