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    Home » Recipes » Vegetables

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese

    Published: Sep 25, 2023 by Shannon · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese is a delicious and elegant side dish that pairs well with a variety of meals. The cauliflower head is first simmered in wine and spices and then baked to crispy perfection to achieve the best flavor and texture.

    A cooked head of Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese. this recipe

    This dish is not just about flavor; it's also a showstopper. The whole cauliflower, after being simmered in a bath of wine and spices, takes on a tender texture. Then, as it bakes to perfection, its edges caramelize and turn a beautiful shade of golden brown. When presented whole, it's a sight to behold, making it a perfect choice for entertaining. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply enjoying a special family meal, this dish is sure to impress your guests. And the best part? It's easy to prepare!

    In addition to being beautiful and delicious, this Baked Whole Cauliflower with Cheese is also nutritious. As a cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower is not only low in calories but also packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. (Check out this article to learn more about the specific health benefits of cauliflower.) What's more, this healthy side dish easily accommodates a variety of dietary restrictions. It's gluten-free, grain-free, vegetarian, low-carb, and keto-friendly and can easily be adapted to be vegan and dairy-free by following the variations below.

    For a complete meal, consider pairing Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese with Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin or Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu and maybe even Spinach and Feta as an additional side dish. Whether you're planning a cozy weeknight dinner or a grand celebration, this dish is a winning addition to your menu that will leave everyone craving for more.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • Recipe
    • Food safety
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    Here's what you need to make Whole Baked Cauliflower with Cheese:

    A bottle of white wine, a head of cauliflower, parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, butter, sugar, salt, red pepper flakes and a bay leaf.
    • bottle of white wine
    • whole cauliflower head
    • extra virgin olive oil
    • shredded or grated parmesan cheese
    • lemon juice
    • sugar
    • salt
    • red pepper flakes
    • bay leaf

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Here's how to make Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese:

    A cutting board, a knife and a head of trimmed cauliflower.

    First, use a knife and cutting board to trim the stem and any leaves off of the cauliflower head as well as cut off any brown spots.

    A pot with white wine, water, butter, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar and spices added to it.

    Next, add the water, wine, olive oil, salt, lemon juice, butter, rep pepper flakes and bay leaf to a large pot over high heat and bring to a boil.

    A pot of seasoned liquid with a whole head of raw cauliflower added to it.

    Once the mixture is boiling, give it a stir and add the whole head of cauliflower with the stem side up. Reduce heat to medium-high and simmer for 8 minutes. Then, flip the cauliflower so the stem side is facing down and simmer for an additional 7 minutes.

    Two heads of whole roasted cauliflower nicely charred, one topped with shredded parmesan cheese.

    Place the cauliflower on a greased baking sheet and bake at 475 for 20 minutes, until the edges of the cauliflower have begun to turn brown. Sprinkle the cauliflower with the cheese and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese has softened. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve.

    Hint: To prep this dish in advance, boil the cauliflower as directed, then cool, place it in an airtight dish and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then, follow the remaining steps to bake the cauliflower just before serving.

    Substitutions

    Want to substitute an ingredient in Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese? Here's how:

    • Head of cauliflower - use a whole head of broccoli instead of cauliflower.
    • White wine - use an equal amount of chicken broth or vegetable broth in place of the white wine.
    • Extra virgin olive oil - use an equal amount of a different oil in place of the olive oil such as canola oil or avocado oil.
    • Sugar - use an equal amount of an alternative sweetener such as honey, agave, monk fruit or maple syrup in place of the sugar.
    • Parmesan cheese - Use an equal amount of a different shredded or crumbled cheese in place of the parmesan such as feta, goat cheese or ricotta salata.
    • Red pepper flakes - use 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper in place of the red pepper flakes.

    Variations

    Try one of these variations of Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese:

    • Spicy - double the amount of red pepper flakes and add several cloves of minced garlic to the simmering pot for a spicier cauliflower.
    • Deluxe - drizzle a little pesto, chimichurri, balsamic glaze or marinara sauce on top of the finished cauliflower for an extra touch.
    • Vegan and dairy-free - eliminate the cheese or use vegan cheese and use extra olive oil in place of the butter to make this recipe vegan.
    • Keto/ low-carb - eliminate the sugar altogether or use monk fruit sweetener instead to make this recipe low-carb or keto.

    Equipment

    This equipment comes in handy when making Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese:

    • knife
    • cutting board
    • measuring cups
    • measuring spoons
    • large pot

    Storage

    Store leftover cooled cooked Whole Roasted Cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Top tip

    Using an entire bottle of white wine for a vegetable side dish can be a bit pricey so I like to use the inexpensive $3.99 Charles Shaw Chardonnay at Trader Joe's. I also like to boil at least two heads of cauliflower each time I make this so that I'm stretching the seasoned boiling liquid further.

    FAQ

    Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

    If whole roasted cauliflower turns out mushy it means you are boiling it too long. Reduce your boiling time and remove the cauliflower when a knife or fork can slide into it with a little resistance.

    Related

    Looking for other easy vegetable recipes like this? Try these:

    • A cooked Green Bean Artichoke Casserole.
      Green Bean Artichoke Casserole
    • A plate of cooked spinach and feta.
      Spinach and Feta
    • A plate of cooked Indian Roasted Cauliflower.
      Indian Roasted Cauliflower
    • A dish with cooked Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice and a wedge of lemon.
      Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice

    Pairing

    Serve Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese with one of these dinner recipes for a balanced meal the whole family will love:

    • A plate of oven roasted smoked sausage and potatoes.
      Oven Roasted Smoked Sausage and Potatoes
    • A platter with cooked Parmesan Mealoaf cut into slices.
      Parmesan Meatloaf
    • A bowl of Turkey Sausage and Kale Soup.
      Turkey Sausage and Kale Soup
    • A platter of prepared Sheet Pan Bruschetta Chicken.
      Sheet Pan Bruschetta Chicken

    Recipe

    A cooked head of Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese.

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese

    Shannon
    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese is a delicious and elegant side dish that pairs well with a variety of meals. The cauliflower head is first simmered in wine and spices and then baked to crispy perfection to achieve the best flavor and texture.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Cooling Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 195 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 knife
    • 1 cutting board
    • measuring cups
    • measuring spoons
    • pot

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 8 cups water
    • 2 ½ cups white wine
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup salt
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 1 bay leaf
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 475.
    • Add the water, wine, olive oil, salt, lemon juice, butter, rep pepper flakes and bay leaf to a large pot over high heat and bring to a boil.
    • While the pot comes to a boil, use a knife and cutting board to trim the stem and any leaves off of the cauliflower head as well as cut off any brown spots.
    • Once the wine mixture is boiling, give it a stir and add the whole head of cauliflower with the stem side up. Reduce heat to medium-high and simmer for 8 minutes. Then, flip the cauliflower so the stem side is facing down and simmer for an additional 7 minutes before removing from the pot.
    • Place the cauliflower on a greased baking sheet and bake at 475 for 20 minutes, until the edges of the cauliflower have begun to turn brown. Sprinkle the cauliflower with the cheese and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese has begun to melt.
    • Cool the cauliflower for 5 minutes, then cut and serve.

    Notes

    Hint: To prep this dish in advance, boil the cauliflower as directed, then cool, place it in an airtight dish and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then, follow the remaining steps to bake the cauliflower just before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 4868mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 204IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword whole roasted cauliflower with cheese
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Food safety

    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    More Easy Vegetable Recipes

    • Two glasses of watermelon and cucumber juice.
      Watermelon and Cucumber Juice
    • A bowl of prepared Keto Cauliflower Mash.
      Keto Cauliflower Mash
    • A bowl of American Cole Slaw.
      American Cole Slaw
    • A plate of cooked Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables with mushrooms, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and artichokes.
      Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shannon

      September 25, 2023 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      My absolute favorite side dish!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Shannon! I’m a work-at-home wife and mom to 3 active boys. Our family recently relocated to Columbus, Ohio and are making our home in the Midwest. Since a young age, I’ve had a deep love for food, with many of my favorite memories revolving around sharing a meal with special people.

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    A cooked head of Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese.