ROASTED PARMESAN CAULIFLOWER

 

Let me begin just this blog with a disclaimer, this recipe is extremely addictive.  If you are someone like me who always has cauliflower on hand and you need to fix yourself a delicious snack, here you have it.  Also, with all the festivities and the entertaining and hosting it entails, this recipe is great because it’s absolutely effortless to put together. What I love about this recipe is that it can be a crowd pleaser for all ages. The sweetness of ground fennel is a delightful companion to salt from the Parmesan. Of course, fennel or not cheese is cheese and it is always good.

 

ROASTED PARMESAN CAULIFLOWER
Serves 2
Gluten-free, Appetizer, Side dish
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. • Cauliflower — 12 ounces (4 cups), cut into bite sized florets
  2. •. Ground fennel— 1/2 teaspoon
  3. • Chili flakes — 1/4 teaspoon
  4. • Extra virgin olive oil — 2 tablespoons
  5. • Sea salt — 1/8 teaspoon or to taste
  6. • Parmesan cheese — 1/4 cup (for every 4 cups of cauliflower), grated
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to a 350 F (176.6 C)
  2. Line a baking tray with nonstick baking mat or foil.
    If using foil, make sure to grease it with some cooking spray or oil.
  3. Now into a large mixing bowl, add the olive oil, ground fennel, chili flakes and salt. Give it a stir with a spatula or spoon so that the spices are mixed in with the oil.
  4. Add the cauliflower and give it a good toss until all the florets are coated evenly with the spices.
  5. Transfer it on to the baking tray. Pop this in the oven for about 20 to 25minutes.
    Two things might impact the change is the cooking time — One, the amount of cauliflower used. If doubling the recipe make sure to not over crowd the pan and (in case you decide to use 1 pan) flip them half way through. More the cauliflower the longer the cook time, so make sure to keep an eye on them after 25 minutes. Two, oven cook times may vary depending on the oven’s capability of retaining heat, so keep an eye on the florets once the timer hits the 20-minute mark.
  6. When the cauliflower turns golden brown in few places, add the grated parmesan cheese all over the florets, stick it in the oven again for 1 to 2 minutes or until all the cheese has melted.
  7. Remove it from the oven and let it sit on the counter to cool for a couple minutes. Serve it with your favorite Marinara sauce.

    Enjoy!
Notes
  1. • Parmesan cheese — Try grating it at home, pre-grated seem to be more expense compared to freshly grating it at home. It also ensures the purity of the ingredients. Parmesan can be replaced with any grated cheese of your choice. Although, the melting time may vary.
  2. • Ground fennel — It’s hard to find pre-ground fennel so I usually, grind it at home in a mortar pestle.
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