This za’atar-spiced Whole Roasted Cauliflower is baked in the oven until tender and crispy, and drizzled with tahini sauce. It’s delicious, healthy, vegan, and low-carb. Video.
Why You’ll Love This
In this easy recipe, a whole head of cauliflower is seasoned with Zaatar Spice, then roasted in the oven until tender and golden. When it comes out, it is fragrant and beautiful golden with a delicious crust.
Drizzle it with creamy Tahini Sauce for a healthy, delicious vegan meal (or side dish) you will enjoy! Love Cauliflower? Check out our 31+ Mouthwatering Cauliflower Recipes!
whole roasted Cauliflower Ingredients
- Whole cauliflower: Choose a large head of cauliflower head that is firm and tightly closed. Look for one with very pale color and no dark spots.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Drizzled over the cauliflower to help it get tender and caramelized in the oven.
- Salt: Brings out the delicious flavors of the seasoning blend!
- Za’atar Spice: Or try dukkah! You can also sub a mix of coriander, cumin, and optional sumac. If using za’atar, make our homemade spice blend or buy this Seattle brand (our favorite!).
- Tahini Sauce: Our Tahini Sauce recipe is creamy, nutty, and zesty, made with lemon juice! Plus, it’s so easy to make.
- Garnishes: Fresh herbs (parsley, dill, mint) and optional aleppo chili flakes for a little extra punchy taste.
How to Make Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Preheat oven to 425F.
Step 1: Trim the cauliflower. Trim away the leaves and cut off the stem to create a flat base (easiest way!), or leave it intact and trim and slice the bottom so it stands up straight like a tree trunk.
Note: You can also cut the cauliflower into steaks or break into florets, but if wanting to try something different and fun, roast the cauliflower whole in the oven, allowing the crust to get a little crispy and golden.
Step 2: Season the cauliflower. Transfer the entire head of cauliflower to a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Drizzle (or brush) with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and Za’atar spice. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the pan.
Step 3: Bake. Cover tightly with the lid or foil and bake on the middle rack 25-45 minutes, depending on the size. It is done when it is tender and can be pierced with a knife. A small cauliflower head can take just 25 minutes, while a larger one can take up to an hour.
Step 4: Uncover. Carefully remove the lid or foil, being mindful of the hot steam. Drizzle with additional oil, then return to the oven to bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway. It should be deeply golden and fork-tender on the inside, but if not, continue roasting until it is. No pale cauliflower here!
Step 5: Make the Tahini Sauce. Whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl or jar.
You could also try this Green Tahini Sauce for more drama!
Step 6: Serve. Remove roasted whole cauliflower from the oven and sprinkle with za’atar, fresh herbs, and optional aleppo flakes. Add cracked pepper too, if you’d like! Lemon zest also adds a pop of bright flavor.
Either drizzle tahini sauce on top while remaining in the pot, or cut the cauliflower into wedges (like a cake), arrange on a serving platter or individual plates, and serve the sauce on the side.
Chef’s Tips & Variations
- Choose the right cauliflower head. Make sure the surface of the vegetable is clean and white with no brown spots. Make sure the florets are tightly packed.
- Make your own za’atar seasoning! It’s super easy and rewarding and adds so much flavor to the cauliflower.
- Try this with green tahini sauce! It adds a beautiful pop of color! Or try our Tahini Yogurt Sauce.
- Add fresh minced garlic. Sprinkle minced garlic cloves over the cauliflower toward the end of baking for a little extra aromatic flavor.
Storing whole roasted cauliflower
For easy storage, cut the cauliflower into wedges and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
How to serve Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini
Serve whole roasted cauliflower a vegan main dish with Tabouli Salad and Middle Eastern Zaatar Rice. If serving as a side dish, Sumac Chicken would be delicious with this!
FAQs
Cauliflower should be stored in a loosely closed plastic bag. If you bought your cauliflower wrapped in plastic, loosen up the knot a little bit.
Place the cauliflower head in a colander and rinse under water. Pat dry thoroughly before seasoning.
Be careful not to drench the cauliflower in olive oil. You may be tempted to add more, but you shouldn’t need more than 2 tablespoons oil (divided!).
My husband and I can easily share this Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe as a tasty vegan meal or divide it into 4-6 smaller portions for a yummy side dish (perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas).
xoxo
More Roasted Cauliflower recipes!
Whole Roasted Cauliflower | 60-sec video
Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: side dish, vegan side dish
- Method: roasted
- Cuisine: middle eastern
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This za’taar-spiced, whole-roasted cauliflower is baked in the oven until tender and crispy and drizzled with tahini sauce. It’s delicious, healthy, vegan, and low-carb.
Ingredients
- 1 whole cauliflower (large is best!)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon zaatar spice ( or try dukkah!) ( or try a mix of coriander, cumin and optional sumac)
- 1 cup water
- 1 Batch TAHINI SAUCE (go to the recipe)
- Garnish with fresh herbs – parsley, dill and or mint, sprinkle with optional aleppo chili flakes, drizzle with this optional Tahini sauce!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Trim the cauliflower – either cutting off the stem (easier) to create a flat base, or leaving it intact, trimming and slicing the bottom so it stands up straight ( like a tree trunk).
- Place it in an ovenproof skillet or dutch oven. Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil all over the cauliflower, sprinkle with salt and Zaatar spice. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the pan.
- Bake. Cover tightly with the lid or foil and bake for 25-45 minutes– depending on size – or until just tender when pierced with a knife. Smaller cauliflower heads may only take 25 minutes, larger ones can take up to 60.
- Uncover. Very carefully take the lid or foil off, minding the hot steam (it will burn!). Drizzle with a little more olive oil, place back in the oven for 30 minutes, perhaps rotating halfway through. At this point it should be deeply golden, but if not, continue roasting until it is… please no pale cauliflowers here!!!
- Make this Tahini Sauce!
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle more zaatar if you like, fresh herbs, optional aleppo chili flakes, and either drizzle the tahini sauce over the whole thing right in the pan, or cut it up, like a cake, into wedges and serve the tahini sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
Make your own Zaatar, or consider buying this Seattle brand– our favorite!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of a cauliflower with no tahini sauce
- Calories: 127
- Sugar: 4.7 g
- Sodium: 366.7 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.8 g
- Fiber: 5.1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Recipes are amazing, always work and lots of really healthy ideas.
What would you suggest we put on the side of this as a vegan dish?
Hi Vanessa- I would serve with Basmati rice, sprinkled with Sumac or Zaatar and make a salad- either the Lebanese Slaw or the Tabouli. 🙂
I made this a few days ago- it was fantastic! I used it to add to your shawarma chicken recipe and served the two in a bowl over a salad with tahini drizzle. Thank you! Love your recipes!
Thanks Teri- glad you liked it!
Any tips on making this in an air fryer?
No, I haven’t tried an air fryer, but am very intrigued!
When I put it back in the oven, should the water still be in the pan?
Yes, but it will cook off after the foil is removed.
When putting it back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes, do you cover it again, or leave it uncovered?
Uncovered!
Does anyone have advice about how to make this without using foil? I am trying to be more eco-conscious (Yes I wash and reuse foil, but…)
Could this be done in a Dutch Oven with a lid? Suggestions?
You can absolutely use a dutch oven!
Yummy perfect with the Sunday Roast
This was so delicious, my family ate the whole thing in one sitting. We made it again the very next night! I also tried chopping the cauliflower and tossing with the oil and spices and it wasn’t as good.
thanks you very good food
I seriously can’t stop making this! It’s super easy and SO good. I made it for some friends last week and they loved it too. I’ve been making it with sautéed greens or salad on the side. It ends up on my grocery list most weeks because it’s so simple and satisfying. Thanks for another great recipe!
Awesome, Jasmine, I’m so glad you are enjoying this! 🙌
I did that 2 days ago, and again my husband and me, we love it!
Super easy to do. Flavors were amazing!
Thank you so much for the recipe!
Thanks so much Leonie!
My Family LOVE it Wonderful and easy recipe .The Tahini sauce it is easy to make and taste good with another’s veggies too.
Thank You so much
Thanks, glad it worked for you! 🙌
I can’t wait to try this. What would you recommend to have with it?
You could serve it with a big salad, or the Sauteed Greens with Basmatic Rice? So many options!
How do you make the sauce?
Follow the link to the Tahini Sauce Recipe. 🙂
Can i prepare the whole roasted cauliflower with dukkah spices instead of zaatar spice because of its unavailability during the lockdown. TIA.
Yes, love it!
I overcooked the cauliflower, but the family loved it. The tahini sauce is soooo good.
Yay Karen!!! I think I just saw it on Instagram? Looked great!
So good. Loved the presentation of keeping it whole and roasting upright
Glad you liked it!
If i could give this 10 stars I would. Exquisite.
Everyone loved this. Simple, and tasty!
Whoaaa, this looks AWESOME! And those photos are jaw-dropping gooooorgeous!!
Woaaa, that’s one goodlooking cauliflower right there. Impressive flavors and the tahini sounds so delicious in the dish.
This is the most epic looking cauliflower dish. Sounds delicious too!
This is so impressive and different! I can tell it is delicious too! Pinning 🙂
Neat!! This sounds awesome!