Spicy cauliflower

Spicy cauliflower is packed with flavour and texture and can be prepared and cooked in only a few minutes.

This 15 minute recipe is an easy way to cook fresh cauliflower and gives great results.

Simply drizzle a little olive oil over your cauliflower steaks, lightly season and pop in the oven. Your oven roasted cauliflower will be ready to eat in no time.

The cauliflower steaks can be prepared in advance (although they really don't take much preparation). They can also be reheated if needed.

This simple roasted cauliflower dish can be served hot to accompany a main meal or cold in salads such as roast cauliflower salad with quinoa. These spicy cauliflower bites also make a tasty appetiser.

The quantities in this roast cauliflower recipe can easily be adjusted to make any quantity of spiced cauliflower you require. As a guide simply use around 150g cauliflower per serving as a side dish or appetiser.

If you are looking for other ideas for vegetable side dishes you may like to try hasselback carrots, roast sprouts or Swiss chard with almonds and raisins.

Ingredients for spicy cauliflower steaks

• Cauliflower per serving - about 150g cauliflower per serving. Use fresh cauliflower rather than frozen for flavour and texture. Select large cauliflower florets if possible as they are easier to slice look more attractive, although any smaller pieces can also be used.

• About 1 tablespoon olive oil - use extra virgin olive oil for maximum flavour.

• Seasoning - in this recipe I have used Cajun seasoning but you could use any seasoning, spice or spice blend of your choice such as creole seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, chilli seasoning or simply sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Equipment needed

No special equipment is needed for this recipe but the following will be useful.

• Chopping board
• Sharp knife
• Roasting tray
• Knife and fork to turn the slices of cauliflower over

How to make spicy cauliflower

Slice the cauliflower florets to a thickness of around 1cm (about ⅓ inch). As the florets are rounded you will have some larger slices where you have cut through the centre and some smaller pieces from the sides. The larger slices can look more attractive but all parts can be used to avoid wastage. Place on an oven tray and drizzle a little olive oil on each slice.

Sprinkle a little seasoning on each slice of cauliflower.

Roast in a hot oven for around 5 minutes until one side is starting to turn golden. Turn over carefully using a knife and fork taking care not to break the slices as they will be soft at this stage. Add a little more olive oil and seasoning then return to the oven and continue to cook until the second side also looks slightly charred and golden.

Tips

1. Only use fresh cauliflower. Cauliflower which has been frozen will be far too soft and will not have a good texture.
2. All parts of the cauliflower florets can be used, both the larger slices and the smaller pieces which are left after slicing the florets.
3. The cauliflower steaks can be reheated if needed.
4. This cauliflower dish is not suitable for freezing.

How to serve

1. Roast cauliflower is delicious served hot as an accompaniment to many main dishes such as nut roast or vegetarian cottage pie.
2. It can also be served cold and makes a tasty addition to salads.
3. Spiced cauliflower bites also make a tasty appetiser, served either hot or cold.
4. Serve alongside other roast vegetables such as parsnips, sweet potato or carrots.

Other quick and easy vegetable recipes

Take a look at some other quick and easy vegetable dishes.

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