30 Best Cauliflower Recipes - Love and Lemons (2024)

These easy cauliflower recipes showcase how versatile cauliflower can be! They include fresh salads, creamy pastas, and everything in between.

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30 Best Cauliflower Recipes - Love and Lemons (1)

30 Best Cauliflower Recipes - Love and Lemons (2)

Who else loves cauliflower recipes?! I’m a fan of this humble veggie not just because it’s delicious (which it is) or healthy (also true), but because it’s so darn versatile. It can blend into creamy soups and sauces without the help of nuts or dairy, and it can transform into a low-carb substitute for noodles or rice. You can boil it, steam it, sauté it, roast it, or even eat it raw. My question is, what can’tcauliflower do?

Because cauliflower is one of the vegetables I cook most often throughout the winter and early spring, I thought now would be a perfect time to highlight some of my best cauliflower recipes. Even if you’re on the fence about cauliflower, I hope you’ll try one. Cauliflower is so flexible that if you don’t like it prepared one way, you’ll surely enjoy it cooked another. Trust me, you’re bound to find some cauliflower recipes you love!

Our Best Cauliflower Recipes

Roasted Cauliflower

If you’re new to cooking cauliflower recipes, roasted cauliflower is a great place to start. Tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper, the florets become beautifully tender and caramelized as they bake in the oven. You’ll want to eat them straight off the sheet pan!

Cauliflower Rice

This veggie “rice” is super simple to make. Just pulse raw cauliflower in a food processor until it has a fine, rice-like texture. Use it as a substitute for regular rice, or mix the two together to sneak extra vegetables into your favorite rice recipes.

Cauliflower Soup

This savory, nutty soup is rich and creamy, but entirely dairy-free. The blended cauliflower creates its luscious texture without any help from milk, cheese, or cream!

Roasted Cauliflower Steak

These plant-based “steaks” are a stunning vegan main or side dish. I serve them over a swoosh of arugula pesto with fresh herbs, golden raisins, and briny capers on top.

Easy Coconut Curry

This comforting vegetable curry is filled with butternut squash, spinach, and tender cauliflower. Add tofu or chickpeas to make it a heartier meal!

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

A fun veggie spin on buffalo chicken wings! They’re crisp around the edges, tender in the middle, and dripping with spicy buffalo sauce. Serve with vegan ranch for dipping!

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

I could eat these tacos every night of the week! They’re fresh, flavorful, and—best of all—super simple. Blend up a zesty avocado sauce while the veggies for the filling roast in the oven. Then, just assemble and serve!

Cream of Mushroom Soup

This homemade mushroom soup is a far cry from the canned stuff. It’s rich and savory, with a crave-worthy creamy texture that comes from blended cauliflower(!), not cream.

Cauliflower Pasta

In this bright and briny pasta, tender cauliflower florets play off a crisp breadcrumb topping. It’s a pretty magical combination—you have to try it!

Curried Lentil Salad with Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

This hearty salad is a satisfying meal prep lunch. Spiced lentils and paneer cheese pack it with protein, and turmeric roasted cauliflower adds a veggie punch. My zesty cilantro lime dressing takes it all over the top!

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

This whole roasted cauliflower is one of the best cauliflower recipes for a special occasion! It looks stunning, it’s mouthwateringly tender, and spices like cumin and paprika pack it with rich flavor. Even my meat-loving dad can’t resist seconds!

Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites

This addictive appetizer is one of the most popular cauliflower recipes on Love & Lemons, and for good reason. The breaded cauliflower florets are crispy, smoky, salty, and spicy. You won’t be able to get enough of them!

Roasted Cauliflower Salad

I could rave about this recipe all day long! It’s brimming with exciting textures and flavors. Olives add briny flavor, dried apricots add sweetness, and toasted almonds give it a nice crunch. Top it off with poppy pickled onions and lots of tahini sauce.

Curried Cauliflower Soup

This curry-spiced soup is fantastic on its own, but I like it even better with a swirl of kale pesto on top. It adds bright, fresh flavor, and it’s pretty, too—the green pesto creates a gorgeous contrast with the yellow soup.

Crispy Cauliflower Po’ Boy

You won’t find any meat or seafood tucked into this hearty po’ boy sandwich. Instead, it’s overflowing with breaded and baked cauliflower florets, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy, smoky remoulade sauce.

Cauliflower Fried Rice

When you want to fill up on veggies, make this recipe! A whole head of cauliflower acts as the “rice,” with shiitake mushrooms, edamame, kimchi, garlic, and ginger mixed in for satisfying texture and punchy flavor. I love it with a fried egg on top.

Fettuccine Alfredo

The secret to this pasta’s rich and creamy texture? A little butter, a little Parmesan cheese, and a whole lotta blended cauliflower! It’s lighter than the classic dish, but no less delicious.

Romesco Cauliflower Sandwiches

If you ask me, tangy romesco sauce and roasted cauliflower are a match made in heaven. Here, I layer them into sandwiches with juicy tomato slices, fresh parsley, and salad greens for crunch.

Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl

This bowl is the sort of thing I love to make on a weeknight. While the veggies roast, I cook a pot of quinoa and whizz up the vibrant pesto sauce. The whole thing takes under 30 minutes to make, and it’s energizing and flavorful. Yum!

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

This ironic recipe contains neither mac nor cheese, but we love it all the same. A gooey, tangy vegan cheese sauce coats tender cauliflower florets. I go back for seconds (erm…thirds) every time I make it.

Air Fryer Vegetables

Like roasted vegetables, but even quicker to make! Dress them up with a squeeze of lemon juice and Parmesan cheese for a 10/10 side dish.

Cauliflower Rice Kimchi Bowls

A ginger-coconut sauce adds rich flavor to these grain- and gluten-free bowls. They’re light and refreshing, but still satisfying, thanks to creamy avocado, sautéed mushrooms, and hearty baked tofu.

Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos

These tacos are great for game day…but once you try them, you’ll want to add them to your regular dinner rotation too. Packed with buffalo cauliflower, fresh veggies, and vegan ranch, they’re so flavorful and SO fun!

Mashed Cauliflower

Move over, mashed potatoes! This mashed cauliflower is creamy, nutty, and light as a cloud. It’s a delicious side dish, especially witha pat of butter or a ladle of mushroom gravy on top.

Lemon Pesto Spaghetti Squash

I LOVE spaghetti squash, but not when it’s drowned in marinara. Instead, I like to use it in this light, lemony bowl that’s complete with pesto, roasted cauliflower, and pine nuts for crunch.

Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl

Diced mango adds a surprising sweetness to this very-veggie burrito bowl.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Greek yogurt and blended cauliflower create the creamy, tangy base of this unconventional (but totally irresistible) spinach artichoke dip.

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Tiny cauliflower florets add texture to these peppers’ zesty black bean and rice filling.

Chipotle Cauliflower Nachos

Can you guess the secret ingredient in that gooey vegan cheese sauce? Yup, it’s cauliflower! Balance the sauce’s smoky flavor with refreshing pineapple salsa.

Blueberry Smoothie

Are you wondering what this smoothie is doing in a list of cauliflower recipes? It has frozen cauliflower inside it!It makes the smoothie insanely creamy, and I promise you can’t taste it!

30 Best Cauliflower Recipes - Love and Lemons (33)

Cauliflower Recipes: Roasted Cauliflower

rate this recipe:

5 from 16 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Serves 4

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This roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite cauliflower recipes! For bright, fresh flavor, sprinkle the florets with lemon zest and chopped herbs.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cauliflower, trimmed, tough leaves removed
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, for sprinkling
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Break the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread evenly on the baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until browned around the edges.

  • Season to taste with more salt and pepper and toss with lemon zest and parsley. Or keep it plain and use in any recipe that calls for roasted cauliflower.

30 Best Cauliflower Recipes - Love and Lemons (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it. Keep for five minutes and remove from the hot water.

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

There are two really simple techniques that bring out the best in cauliflower: grilling and pickling. Dumping cauliflower florets in a mixture of salt and lemon juice for 45 minutes to an hour turns them into spiky little flavor bombs, delivering high-pitched squeaks in salads, sandwiches or the stew recipe here.

Why is my roasted cauliflower not crispy? ›

DO NOT CROWD THE PAN. This is the roasted vegetable golden rule. If you crowd the pan, the cauliflower will steam instead of roast. If your cauliflower is soggy, you likely crowded the pan.

What happens when you add lemon juice to water when cooking cauliflower? ›

Helps retain color: Cauliflower can sometimes turn brown or lose its vibrant white color when cooked. However, the acid in lemon juice can help prevent discoloration and maintain the cauliflower's white appearance.

Why do you put lemon juice in cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower contains some phytonutrients, these nutrients may react with iron cookware and gives the cauliflower a brownish color. To prevent this add some lemon juice to the cauliflower or to the water in which it is blanched.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda is often used as a natural cleaning agent, and it can be used to brighten up your veggies too. Sprinkle a little in the water before boiling to prevent cauliflower from yellowing and make corn look more vibrant.

What does cauliflower do for your body? ›

It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

Should you rinse cauliflower before cooking? ›

As per experts, the head of cauliflower is full of crevices that make it susceptible to collecting insects, bacteria, and dirt; hence, cleaning it before consumption is necessary. Take a look at the step-by-step process of cleaning cauliflower at home.

Is it healthier to steam or bake cauliflower? ›

You can keep more of its nutrients if you steam, roast, or stir-fry it. But boiling it can lower the levels of its B vitamins, vitamin C, and magnesium. Cauliflower is also a healthy low-carb, gluten-free alternative to legumes and grains.

How do you cook cauliflower to prevent gas? ›

Cooking Methods: Cook cauliflower thoroughly by boiling, steaming, roasting, or stir-frying it. Cooking breaks down some of the complex fibers in cauliflower, which can make it easier to digest and reduce the likelihood of gas formation.

Can you cook cauliflower too long? ›

Overcooking It

It should cook in the microwave for 3-4 minutes and when you're heating it up on a pan it should be about 2-3 minutes. Keeping riced cauliflower on a pan longer than that will start make it turn too crumbly and wreck the texture.

How long does it take to cook cauliflower? ›

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

Can you over cook cauliflower? ›

The general rule of thumb is about 20 minutes. Cauliflower that is overcooked will lose up to 50% of its vitamins and minerals. If you want a healthy meal, cook it for just a few minutes less.

How long to soak cauliflower in vinegar water? ›

Produce with rough outer skin: Items such as broccoli, potatoes and cauliflower are a little harder to clean. Soak in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water for 1 minute. For heads of cabbage or lettuce, it's best to separate the leaves first.

Is it worth marinating cauliflower? ›

Mildly Marinated Cauliflower is the perfect balance of pickling spices. There's a sweet tang that children will love and don't hesitate to add it to salads.

How do you keep cauliflower from getting mushy? ›

If you cut all the way through the floret, you're cutting through the cell structure of the curd — and when you cook it, that part will get mushy. Easier still: Place the larger florets on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little olive oil and roast them. Michael Marks is the marketing manager for FreshPoint.

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