Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower is a delicious and healthy dish that adds a burst of color to any meal. This recipe is simple to make and is a great way to enjoy a nutritious vegetable in a tasty and flavorful way!
This veggie snack is a perfect blend of sweet and savory, as roasting the cauliflower brings out its sweetness, and the peppers and herbs enhance the spicy flavors.
This is perfect for a snack, side dish, or appetizer, and at only 5g net carbs, it fits in perfectly with a low carb or keto diet.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a yellow spice related to ginger, grown in Asia and Central America but used in cuisines around the world. It is quite earthy and has a slightly bitter taste but tastes better when paired with other spices. It is considered a superfood as it is chock-full of powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric vs Curry
Even though they look similar, turmeric and curry are not the same spice. For one, turmeric is a single spice while curry is a spice blend.
Though turmeric is actually what gives curry its yellow color, curry usually contains more than one spice which includes turmeric, cumin, bay leaf, cloves, pepper, fenugreek, or even cinnamon.
Different blends have different combinations of these in different quantities and that’s why it varies in taste between different brands.
Ingredients Used
- Cauliflower: Fresh cauliflower works best for this recipe.
- Olive oil: This acts as the base for the marinade.
- Spices: Turmeric, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, cajun seasoning, and salt.
- Optional garnish: Parsley.
How To Make Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower
- First, preheat the oven to 425F. Then, cut the cauliflower into florets of approximate size. Don’t worry if there are not all perfectly the same size as this is difficult to achieve, just do the best you can.
- In a small bowl, pour in the oil and all the spices and mix thoroughly. Don’t add the parsley in just yet. You can use any spices you have on hand and modify the amount of pepper used to your level of spiciness.
- Remember I mentioned turmeric can and will probably stain your nails? For this next step, where you mix in the cauliflower with the spices, you will probably need gloves if you want to do it with your hands in a large bowl.
- But a more effective and simpler way is to put the cauliflower in a large resealable plastic bag, pour in the oil and spices, close it tight and mix till the cauliflower is thoroughly coated. Voila! Mess avoided.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spread out the cauliflower, making sure they are not packed tightly. Bake for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- If you want it extra crispy, turn off the oven when done and leave the cauliflower for an extra 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley or other herbs and serve.
This is a great snack or side dish you will make over and over again, as it is so versatile, tasty, and satisfying. Cauliflower is loaded with fiber so it fills you up pretty quickly.
Recipe Tips
- Cut Florets of Equal Size: The florets should be of equal size so that it has an even roasting. This way, you can avoid some parts getting burnt while others are not half-cooked.
- Apply Enough Oil: Toss the cauliflower in enough oil to coat each floret. This helps the spices stick and makes sure that the cauliflower roasts rather than steams. Either olive or avocado oil works well.
- Spice Blend Balance: You can mix turmeric with other spices, such as cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt, to achieve a balanced flavor. Turmeric can be very overpowering; therefore, it is good to balance it with other spices to enhance the flavor.
- High Heat Roasting: Roast in a very hot oven, at about 425°F. This really allows nice caramelization and crispiness on the edges but keeps the inside tender.
- Halfway Through, Toss: Make sure you shake the cauliflower halfway through roasting for even cooking and to prevent it from sticking to the pan. This also allows for equal golden brown color on all sides.
Warning about turmeric stains
Turmeric has a very bright yellow color and one might say, anything it touches turns to gold. Well, technically not everything but there are a few things it will stain – your nails, teeth, clothing, and countertops, among others.
It might not be a good idea to wear white clothing when making this recipe, as it might be rapidly dyed a yellow color which might be difficult to remove. Just in case, here are some remedies for removing turmeric stains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute curry powder for turmeric?
Yes, in this recipe, curry powder can be substituted for turmeric. Though you would not reap all the medical benefits that turmeric provides, curry will still provide a spicy, flavorful, healthy cauliflower snack.
Enjoy this veggie snack with these tasty chicken and meat dishes!
- Air Fryer Pork Belly
- Air Fryer Cornish Hen
- Ninja Foodi Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Lamb Chops
- Peri Peri Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Try these other delicious, low carb side appetizers and dishes!
- Sauteed Green Beans & Mushrooms
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- Keto Coleslaw
- Keto Bang Bang Shrimp
- Air Fryer Broccoli
📖 Recipe
Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoon parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Combine the olive oil, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, turmeric, salt, cajun seasoning in a bowl and mix thoroughly.¼ cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt
- Put the cauliflower in a large resealable plastic bag, pour in the oil and spices and mix till the cauliflower is thoroughly coated.1 head cauliflower
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spread out the cauliflower, making sure they are not packed tightly.
- Â Bake for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway.Â
- If you want it extra crispy, turn off the oven and leave the cauliflower for another 5 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley or other herbs and serve.2 tablespoon parsley
Notes
- Cut Florets of Equal Size: The florets should be of equal size so that it has an even roasting. This way, you can avoid some parts getting burnt while others are not half-cooked.
- Apply Enough Oil: Toss the cauliflower in enough oil to coat each floret. This helps the spices stick and makes sure that the cauliflower roasts rather than steams. Either olive or avocado oil works well.
- Spice Blend Balance: You can mix turmeric with other spices, such as cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt, to achieve a balanced flavor. Turmeric can be very overpowering; therefore, it is good to balance it with other spices to enhance the flavor.
- High Heat Roasting: Roast in a very hot oven, at about 425°F. This really allows nice caramelization and crispiness on the edges but keeps the inside tender.
- Halfway Through, Toss: Make sure you shake the cauliflower halfway through roasting for even cooking and to prevent it from sticking to the pan. This also allows for equal golden brown color on all sides.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower not only looks vibrant but also packs a punch of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. Perfect for a healthy meal!
I made this last night and my husband and I LOVED it. Neither of us especially like cauliflower, so I was surprised how delicious it was! Thanks for the recipe!
I'm so glad to hear that, Kate!