Description
Ina Garten’s garlic-roasted cauliflower elevates this humble vegetable with rich, caramelized flavors from olive oil and fresh garlic. Crisp edges and golden-brown florets make this simple side dish a crowd-pleasing complement to many main courses you’ll want to serve.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large cauliflower head, trimmed and cut into large florets
- 1 whole garlic head, cloves separated but not peeled
- 4.5 tbsps (67.5 ml) good olive oil, divided
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) pine nuts, toasted
- ¼ cup (60 ml) minced fresh parsley
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack in the center and preheat to a searing 450°F (230°C). Place a large rimmed baking sheet nearby for roasting.
- Garlic Preparation: Briefly blanch garlic cloves in boiling water for 15 seconds. Drain, peel, and slice larger cloves lengthwise to ensure uniform roasting and enhanced flavor distribution.
- Seasoning and Arrangement: Combine cauliflower florets and prepared garlic on the baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil, then season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread ingredients in a single, uncrowded layer to maximize caramelization and prevent steaming.
- Roasting: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven. Roast for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan and gently tossing the mixture halfway through cooking. Look for golden-brown edges and tender texture as indicators of perfect doneness.
- Finishing: Transfer the roasted cauliflower and garlic to a large mixing bowl. Incorporate additional olive oil, freshly chopped parsley, toasted pine nuts, and a bright squeeze of lemon juice. Sprinkle with a final touch of salt, carefully tossing to ensure even flavor integration. Serve immediately while the dish is piping hot and aromatic.
Notes
- Blanch Garlic Effectively: Quickly boil garlic cloves for 15 seconds to make peeling easier and reduce intense raw flavor, ensuring a milder roasted taste.
- Maximize Caramelization: Spread cauliflower and garlic in a single layer on the sheet pan, preventing overcrowding to achieve perfect golden-brown edges and enhanced flavor development.
- Control Roasting Precision: Toss the vegetables midway through cooking to guarantee even browning and prevent burning, creating a uniform, tender texture.
- Elevate Final Touches: Add fresh parsley, toasted pine nuts, and lemon juice after roasting to introduce bright, complementary flavors and textural contrast to the caramelized cauliflower.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg