Oven Roasted Cauliflower (Middle-Eastern Recipe)

This amazing recipe with roasted cauliflower and chickpeas is for sure one of the best and easiest ways to prepare this beautiful vegetable. Perfectly tender cauliflower and spiced crispy chickpeas, this dish is packed with Middle Eastern flavors and nutrients!

Cauliflower is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and that is for a good reason. It is so versatile and easy to prepare.

I absolutely love this easy recipe and shared it with so many people along the way. Because once you tried it you will want to do it again and again. This is my favorite way to prepare cauliflower, I hope you will enjoy it too.

Jump to:

• Why make it
• Ingredients notes
• Health benefits of cauliflower
• Step by step
• How to cut cauliflower
• Frequently asked questions
• How to serve
• Variations
• How to store
• How to freeze
• How to reheat frozen cauliflower
• Top Tips
• More healthy recipes:
• Watch how to make it
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower - Middle-Eastern Recipe

Why make it

• Plant power at its best. This dish is packed with nutrients, minerals and all the good things.
• This roasted cauliflower recipe is gluten-free.
• Easy and quick to prepare. Simply mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, toss them on a baking sheet, bake and enjoy some seriously delicious flavours!
• It is vegan. This one is for you my vegan friends.
• A perfect salad to bring for a BBQ with friends.
• Can be enjoyed on its own as a main course.
• Makes great leftovers and can be prepared for lunches ahead of time.
• Simply delicious!!!

Ingredients notes

A large head of cauliflower, cut into florets. See below for how to cut the cauliflower.

Chickpeas. Tinned chickpeas are fine for this recipe. But if you would like to spend some time and cook chickpeas from scratch, you can learn how to cook chickpeas here.

Health benefits of cauliflower

What if I told you, you can take a pill, only 3 to 4 times a week and this pill will dramatically reduce your chance of getting breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian caver? Would you take it?

What if I told you that cauliflower does just that? It is true. Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that should be called a super-food. Various studies have shown that the bioactive components of this cruciferous vegetable can have beneficial effects on biomarkers of cancer-related (breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancer) processes in people.

Additionally, cauliflower helps to detoxify your liver. Pretty amazing isn’t it?! 

And yes, cauliflower is naturally gluten-free.

Step by step

• Preheat the oven to 200° (400°F)
• Wash the cauliflower, dry it with a paper towel and cut it into small florets. See below for how to do it easily.
• Place the cauliflower into a large bowl.
• Rinse the chickpeas and add them to the bowl with the cauliflower.
• Now add the extra virgin olive oil, ground cumin, ground coriander and pinch of sea salt, toss them with your hands to combine, or use a big spoon. Make sure everything is evenly coated with spices.
• Line a baking tray with some parchment paper and transfer cauliflower and chickpeas onto the tray. Spread it out evenly, so that the pieces are not jam-packed. We want the cauliflower to roast, not steam. If you have too many vegetables, spread them on two trays.
• Bake for 30 minutes tossing them at the 15-minute mark. All ovens are different and cooking time might vary. Cauliflower turns golden brown and chickpeas have a crunchy texture when they are done. It might take a little longer.
• Remove from the oven, sprinkle with some fresh coriander leaves and serve!

How to cut cauliflower

1. Cut the cauliflower head in half.
2. Place the halves on a chopping board and cut them in two halves again, so you have four quarters.
3. Now cut the core of each quarter.
4. Pull the cauliflower florets apart.

How to serve

• This roasted cauliflower is packed with fibre and plant protein and can be a dish on its own. Serve with some fresh herbs, feta cheese and lemon wedges and enjoy.
• It is delicious with tahini dressing.
• Try it with hummus and gluten-free pita bread.
• It is a perfect healthy side dish for chicken or fish.

Try serving it with one of these easy dinner recipes:

Variations

• Use dukkha instead of ground spices.
• Use lots of chopped fresh parsley, coriander (cilantro) and fresh lemon juice to add some fresh notes to it.
• Add some cayenne pepper to the spice blend to add some heat to the dish.

How to store

If you happened to have some leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. Enjoy it cold or reheat it in a frying pan or microwave.

How to freeze

You can freeze roasted cauliflower and chickpeas if you like. Allow the vegetables to cool down completely. Place it on a small baking tray and freeze until solid. Place the frozen cauliflower and chickpeas in a Ziploc bag. Make sure to remove any excess air before sealing. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.

How to reheat frozen cauliflower

Place frozen cauliflower and chickpeas on a baking tray and bake at 200'C for 20 minutes.

More healthy recipes:

Watch how to make it

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