This Whole-Roasted Cauliflower with Zaatar and Tahini Sauce is bursting with delicious Middle Eastern flavor! It’s easy and delicious, vegan, and low-carb. Watch the video.
In this easy recipe, Whole Roasted 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 fall in love with! Love Cauliflower? Check out our 33+ Best Cauliflower Recipes!
How to make Whole Roasted Cauliflower:
Step 1: Remove the leaves of the cauliflower, revealing the stem. Trim the stem of the cauliflower so it is level- and keep it upright for added drama, or simply slice it off for easier roasting.
Step 2: Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with zaatar and salt and pepper. Zaatar spice can either be made at home or purchased.
Step 3: After seasoning the cauliflower, pour a cup of water in the pan and cover tightly with foil.
Step 4: Roast in a 425F oven for 35-55 minutes, depending on the size. Either cover with foil or use a dutch oven.
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 5: Remove the foil or lid then continue to bake another half hour until deliciously golden and crispy.
Top with fresh herbs like parsley and/or dill.
More recipes you may like:
- Green Tahini Sauce
- Zaatar Meatballs with Green Tahini Sauce
- Roasted Eggplant with Zaatar
- Zaatar Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Green Tahini Sauce
- Grain-Free Moroccan Cauliflower Couscous
Whole Roasted Cauliflower | 60-sec video
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: side dish, vegan side dish
- Method: roasted
- Cuisine: middle eastern
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Zaatar Spice and Tahini Sauce- a healthy vegan side dish bursting with Middle Eastern flavor. Easy and delicious! Allow 90 minutes roasting time!
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
If purchasing Zaatar, make your own, or consider 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!