Curried Cauliflower

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5 from 74 votes
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This curry roasted cauliflower needs just 4 ingredients to make and makes a fabulous side dish! Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s crispy, crunchy, and SO delicious! 

curry cauliflower.

There is a reason why cauliflower is considered the king of vegetables.

It is, without a doubt, one of the most versatile vegetables. You can literally do anything and everything with it.

Some of the more creative ways to use it include using it to make a pizza crust, use it to make tortillas, or even as a substitute for mashed potatoes

While all delicious, sometimes the more simple of recipes are the best. This is why I have a soft spot for this curried cauliflower. 

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Just 4 ingredients. Cauliflower, oil, and spices.
  • The best texture. Crispy and golden brown on the outside, soft and delicious in the middle. 
  • Diet friendly. It’s low in carbs and perfect if you follow a vegan and gluten-free diet. 

What I love about this cauliflower dish is just how flavorful it is. Adding a dash of curry to the seasoning completely transforms it. It tastes so good, you could polish off the entire batch on your own! 

Ingredients needed

This recipe is very simple and besides cauliflower and a few spices, there isn’t much else that goes into this dish. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Cauliflower– Chopped into florets.
  • Olive oil– While any oil works, the olive variety lends a much better flavor to the curry mix. This gives the cauliflower a lovely crispy exterior. 
  • Curry powder– Use your favorite spice mix or try making your own. 
  • Salt and pepper– to taste. 

How to make curried cauliflower

Start by adding the cauliflower to a bowl. Add the olive oil, curry powder, and seasonings and mix very well, until all the cauliflower is well coated. 

Next, transfer the cauliflower onto a lined baking sheet or dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Now, remove the curry cauliflower from the pan and serve immediately. 

how to make curried cauliflower.

Can I make this in the air fryer? 

If you’d like to make air fryer cauliflower, follow the instructions below-

Step 1– Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F. Prepare the cauliflower as instructed.

Step 2- Add it to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Tips to make the best recipe

  • If your florets are on the larger side, be sure to flip them regularly. 
  • While you CAN make this oil-free, even adding a smidge of oil can take this dish up a notch. 
  • Oven makes and models differ. If your cauliflower isn’t golden brown around the edges, keep it in there longer! 

Ways to use roasted cauliflower

While delicious on its own (it’s a fabulous side dish!), this cauliflower is super versatile and can be used in a plethora of ways. Here are some suggestions- 

  • Cauliflower curry. Add it to a chicken curry or make a curry from scratch and add the roasted cauliflower to it. 
  • Add it to fried rice. Finely chop the curried cauliflower and toss it through curry fried rice or even cauliflower rice
  • Make cauliflower soup. Pulse the roasted cauliflower until smooth and use it as a base to make curry cauliflower soup. 
  • Add chickpeas. Toss a can of drained chickpeas into the cauliflower before roasting it. 
  • Add potatoes. Like the chickpeas, add 2-3 diced potatoes and increase the cooking time by 5 minutes. 

Storage instructions

  • To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days. 
  • To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled cauliflower in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to six months. 
  • Reheating: Either microwave the cauliflower or reheat it in the oven until crispy. 
curried cauliflower.

More delicious recipes using cauliflower

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

Avoid overcrowding the baking dish and leave some room between each floret so they can cook evenly and completely. This guarantees the cauliflower is always crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Is this recipe keto-friendly?

Cauliflower is a fantastic keto vegetable as it has very few net carbs. Adding curry powder and simple seasonings make no impact, making this dish suitable for those on a low-carb diet.

How do you cut cauliflower for roasting?

To cut the cauliflower for roasting, slice it in half. From there, cut each floret off piece by piece. For those larger pieces, you can cut those in half.

Cutting the vegetable this way ensures the florets remain intact.

curry cauliflower recipe.

Curried Cauliflower | Crispy, Healthy, And Perfectly Roasted

5 from 74 votes
This curry roasted cauliflower needs just 4 ingredients to make and makes a fabulous side dish! Ready in just 20 minutes, it's crispy, crunchy, and SO delicious! 
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 16 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 large cauliflower chopped into bite sized florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the cauliflower and toss through all the spices. Add the olive oil and using your hands, mix well to ensure all florets are coated with the spices and the oil.
  • Add the cauliflower on an even layer on the baking tray and cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Notes

TO STORE: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days. 
TO FREEZE: Place the cooked and cooled cauliflower in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to six months. 
TO REHEAT: Either microwave the cauliflower or reheat in the oven until crispy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSodium: 645mgPotassium: 655mgFiber: 5gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 101mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 6g
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. Never have I ever eaten off the Whole Foods hot bar… looking at this makes me feel like I may be seriously missing out on something!

  2. You know how deep my love of cauliflower is. It knows no bounds, and I cannot wait to try this.

    Next time, do me a favor and mix a little oil, vinegar, some green onions and blue cheese together. Pour it over your roasted cauliflower when it comes out of the oven. Best thing ever. I have cauliflower haters who love this.

    1. Can I tell you a secret….my next copycat recipe is the Whole Foods Sicilian Cauliflower which is oil, vinegar and parmesan cheese. Blue cheese would be better. Omg. I want blue cheese now.

  3. I heart cauliflower – especially curried cauli. My mom makes hers with a spicy curry sauce but I’m liking this spice version! Now to head out and buy some garam marsala…

  4. You’re right – the hot bar/salad bar at the Toronto Whole Foods does suck! I much prefer the one closer to me in Oakville. Especially this one time when they had the more glorious roasted butternut squash. I haven’t seen it there since that one time though!

    And I don’t think I’ve ever seen curry roasted cauliflower there either. I love roasted cauliflower though so this looks like a winner!

  5. Gotta love the charred part – it’s the best!!
    I kind of lived in Whole Foods when I was in NY. Though I always went for the salad bar – and spent about 2/3 of my vacation money there…..

  6. WHOLE.FOODS.BRUSSELS.SPROUTS. i can’t even put into words how they get them so effing tender and tasty. i’m also a big fan of their simple grilled salmon. as everything else they serve, lets be honest. but so funny you say you eat it cold because i eat my work lunch every day cold (even though there IS a microwave). maybe i’m 50% lazy and maybe we are 50% genius because cold roasted cauliflower is my beyoootch. I’ve been roasting mine with salt, pepper, garlic powder and buffalo sauce and ughhh so perfect! i need to try this one next even though i don’t have garam marsala dangit! although frieda’s produce just sent me purple, orange and green cauliflower so i’m ready to take down about 3 heads this week.. #beatthebloat

  7. Be still my beating heart….I love any and all cauliflower along with brussels sprouts, and broccoli but cauli comes first even before kabocha.

    Love this recipe (: And my whole foods has it occasionally but who needs them when I can stock up on purple, orange and romanesco cauliflower varieties…even yummier!

  8. I live in NY and have still never been to Whole Foods >:-( My favorite roasted veggie is squash. After baking in the over with a bit of maple syrup and oil, it tastes like candy. However, I don’t like roasting squash outside of the cooler months, do I’d say my most frequently roasted veggie is the sweet potato. It’s not a day off from work without some sweet potato oven fries!

  9. WHAT?! You didn’t like Toronto’s hot bar?! I don’t blame you. It wasn’t my favourite that day either…except for the mashed potatoes. Those were wonderful.

    I love roasted sweet potatoes but cauliflower comes in at a close second! Like you, I usually just use oil, salt and pepper but this copycat version sounds AMAZING. Must try. I love when it gets a bit burnt and crispy just like how you’ve got it in your photos. HOT DAYUMN. GIMME SUMMA DAT.

    1. True. If it wasn’t for the butter and cream, it would have been fail whale.

      Confession- I actually burn them way more, but they would look like a bushfire.

  10. Thank you for reminding me that I haven’t been to a Whole Foods hot bar since I was in Minneapolis, which was over a year ago. Jerk. (I kid). I can’t remember if they had the cauliflower when I went…apparently I’m missing out?
    Favourite roasted veggie = sweet potatoes. Although for non-potatoes….broccoli.

  11. Perhaps this coming year will be the year I try to reconnect with cauliflower. Or I guess more appropriately, connect. Never was a huge fan of it, but mostly that was when I ate it raw. Definitely open to this recipe, and I’ve always wanted to try cauliflower subbed mashed potatoes. We should start a campaign to measure potatoes and cauli’s in poods. That’s way more fun.

    1. Mate, that is so weird to us Australians- I think the whole country was taught to eat broccoli and cauliflower cooked- never raw!

  12. Second favourite veggie?! Reeeeaally?! I’m not the biggest fan — or at least my stomach isn’t — so you can keep all the cauliflower. I’ll steal the potatoes 😛

    1. same. yet i love the curry ones at whole foods. It’s so tempting! I want to eat it all, but my husband won’t like later if i do. haha. 😉

  13. This looks like a better way to eat cauliflower! My stomach only sometimes likes it (argghhhhhh) but I do enjoy it from time to time. Whole Foods hot bar=magical…can’t wait for another recreation!