30-Minute Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Florets
This turmeric roasted cauliflower recipe is a simple & healthy vegetable side dish that will be on the table in 30 minutes or less. Nutritious cauliflower florets are coated in olive oil, turmeric & seasoning, and are roasted in the oven until perfectly crispy and caramelized. Turmeric cauliflower is a versatile side dish that pairs well with any weeknight meal!
Oven roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite healthy vegetable side dishes. I love the taste, and as a Registered Dietitian, I feel great about cooking and eating a nutrient dense veggie with my meals!
This roasted turmeric cauliflower recipe is regularly in the dinner rotation at our house because it’s so easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and pairs perfectly with all kinds of meals. In addition to cauliflower, you just need turmeric, salt, a few seasonings, and olive oil!
This easy recipe is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free. It takes just 30 minutes to prepare!
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a plant native to India and Southeast Asia, in the same family as ginger. Turmeric has been used as a culinary spice and in alternative medicine applications for centuries.
Is turmeric good for you?
Recently, turmeric use has gained popularity in the wellness space. This is due to the main component of turmeric, curcumin. Curcumin gives turmeric its vibrant golden color and has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory behaviors.
Limited research shows some possible benefits of taking turmeric for a variety of conditions, including degenerative eye conditions, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, inflammation, and anxiety (1). However, we need much more research to make stronger conclusions about the benefits of turmeric.
Those looking for a boost of antioxidants from turmeric should use it culinarily and cook with turmeric. Turmeric supplements are generally not recommended, as they are not regulated and contain much more turmeric than you would consume by eating a meal cooked with turmeric.
Step-by-step video
Ingredients in turmeric roasted cauliflower
Everything you need to make this recipe is listed below:
- Fresh cauliflower
- Ground turmeric
- Adobo seasoning – Adobo seasoning is a Caribbean and Latin American dry seasoning staple. It usually is a blend of different seasonings that include garlic, pepper, oregano, and turmeric.
- Sumac – Sumac is a Middle Eastern spice with a bright, lemony, slightly sweet, slightly tart flavor. It’s one of my favorite spices to cook with because it helps add a level of acidity without needing to use vinegar or citrus.
- Salt
- Olive oil
Kitchen tools needed
You’ll need a cutting board and chef’s knife to cut the cauliflower into florets, as well as a baking sheet for roasting the cauliflower.
Once you have tried turmeric cauliflower, give my other cauliflower recipes a try: Moroccan spiced cauliflower, pesto cauliflower, cauliflower piccata, and cauliflower pasta!
How to make turmeric roasted cauliflower
- Preheat the oven to 425°F – we want a hot oven to caramelize and crisp up the cauliflower.
- Cut cauliflower into florets. Put them in the center of a large baking sheet. You want the baking sheet to be large enough that the cauliflower florets are spread out and not crowded together – otherwise the cauliflower will steam instead of brown.
- Add olive oil, all the seasonings, and salt. Use your (clean) hands to toss the cauliflower in the seasoning so each piece is coated in oil and seasoning. Spread the cauliflower out on the baking sheet so each piece has enough space and nothing is overlapping.
- Pause to wash your hands thoroughly – turmeric can stain!
- Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Cauliflower is done roasting when the bottoms and edges are deep golden brown, and the cauliflower florets are soft but still have a bit of chew – not soggy!
Recipe tip: Place cauliflower florets cut side down onto the baking sheet. You want as much surface area as possible in contact with the hot pan. This allows the maillard reaction to occur – which is a fancy term for browning, and which gives oven roasted vegetables their delicious caramelized flavor and aroma.
Storage
Got leftovers? Turmeric cauliflower can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in the microwave, but my preferred method is in the oven. Spread cauliflower florets out on a pan and reheat for about 10 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through. This helps the cauliflower maintain its original crispiness!
I love to use leftover roasted cauliflower in salads or cauliflower tacos the next day.
Recipe pairings
You can pair this turmeric roasted cauliflower with pretty much any meal! It’s an excellent side dish for salmon, cod, salmon burgers, tuna burgers, tofu, tempeh, shrimp, and more.
Can you roast frozen cauliflower?
Yes, you can use frozen cauliflower to make oven roasted cauliflower. While I have not tested it myself for this recipe, you’ll want to roast it right from frozen, without defrosting the cauliflower beforehand.
Toss the frozen cauliflower with olive oil and seasonings, put it on your baking sheet, and pop it right in the preheated oven! You may need to adjust cooking time slightly, so keep an eye on the cauliflower as it cooks.
Cauliflower nutrition & health benefits
Cauliflower is an incredibly healthy vegetable to include in your diet. One cup of raw cauliflower provides:
- 2.1 grams of dietary fiber (8% of your daily needs)
- 2.1 grams of plant-based protein
- 60.99 mcg folate (15% of your daily needs)
- 0.714 mg pantothenic acid (14% of your daily needs)
- 0.197 mg Vitamin B6 (12% of your daily needs)
- 51.6 mg Vitamin C (57% of your daily needs)
- 16.6 mcg Vitamin K (14% of your daily needs)
Cauliflower is rich in a beneficial plant compound called sulforaphane. This compound has potent anti-inflammatory effects, protecting our cells against certain diseases. Other cruciferous veggies also have this plant compound, including kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.
Let me know if you love this post by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
Nutritious 30-Minute Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
- Category: side dish
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This turmeric roasted cauliflower recipe is a simple & healthy vegetable side dish that will be on the table in 30 minutes or less. Nutritious cauliflower florets are coated in olive oil, turmeric & seasoning, and are roasted in the oven until perfectly browned and caramelized. Turmeric cauliflower is a versatile side dish that pairs well with any weeknight meal!
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp adobo seasoning
- 1/2 tsp sumac
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Put cauliflower florets in a pile on a large baking sheet.
- Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle turmeric, adobo seasoning, sumac, and salt on top of the cauliflower florets.
- Use your hands to toss the cauliflower in the oil and seasonings, so each floret is well coated and seasoning is evenly dispersed.
- Spread the cauliflower out on the baking sheet, making sure florets are not touching or piling on top of each other.
- Roast cauliflower in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Cauliflower will be done when the edges and bottoms are well browned and caramelized, and florets are fork tender but not mushy.
Notes
Recipe tip: Place cauliflower florets cut side down onto the baking sheet. You want as much surface area as possible in contact with the hot pan. This allows the maillard reaction to occur – which is a fancy term for browning, and which gives oven roasted vegetables their delicious caramelized flavor and aroma.
Storage
Got leftovers? Turmeric cauliflower can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in the microwave, but my preferred method is in the oven. Spread cauliflower florets out on a pan and reheat for about 10 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through. This helps the cauliflower maintain its original crispiness!
I love to use leftover roasted cauliflower in salads or cauliflower tacos the next day. This cauliflower recipe is also delicious when drizzled with lemon tahini sauce.
Can you roast frozen cauliflower?
Yes, you can use frozen cauliflower to make oven roasted cauliflower. While I have not tested it myself for this recipe, you’ll want to roast it right from frozen, without defrosting the cauliflower beforehand.
Toss the frozen cauliflower with olive oil and seasonings, put it on your baking sheet, and pop it right in the preheated oven! You may need to adjust cooking time slightly, so keep an eye on the cauliflower as it cooks.
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