Crispy Cajun Cauliflower

Crispy Cajun Cauliflower brings a kiss of heat to this tasty, slightly crunchy side dish. Season cauliflower steaks with the cajun seasoning and make it a meal.

Crispy Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower is such a blank slate when it comes to flavors. This makes it a perfect canvas for roasting and adding seasonings to go with any dish.

Roasting is my absolute favorite way to cook most vegetables. With crispy edges and tender centers, this cauliflower is so perfectly seasoned, I can happily make a meal out of it.

To ensure crispy cauliflower be sure the surface is dry before you toss it in olive oil. After washing and cutting into florets, I often dump it onto a tea towel and pat the pieces dry if it seems like there is too much moisture.

When roasting vegetables, cutting evenly sized pieces is key for even roasting in the oven. Stirring and flipping the cauliflower, halfway through cooking will ensure each side has a chance to get crispy.

I prefer the homemade Cajun seasoning blend listed here, and although it isn’t traditional I love using smoked paprika instead of regular. I like the depth of flavor and smokiness it gives the cauliflower in this dish. You have to try it on Brussels Sprouts as well!

If you want to make this even simpler, feel free to swap in your favorite store-bought Cajun seasoning spice blend or toss with your favorite taco seasoning instead.

Cajun Cauliflower

While you can buy pre-made cajun seasoning blends, and sometimes I do. However, I prefer my own homemade blend for this crispy cajun cauliflower. The key spice ingredients are:

• smoked paprika or plain paprika
• granulated garlic or garlic powder
• kosher salt
•  freshly ground black pepper
• granulated onion or onion powder
• crushed oregano
• crushed thyme
• cayenne pepper

Crispy Cauliflower Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Stir together the spices and the oil in a large mixing bowl. Add the cauliflower pieces to the bowl with the spice mixture and toss well with your hands to thoroughly coat.
2. Spread the cauliflower across the baking pan. Roast for 15 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender and beginning to crisp.
3. Shake the pan or stir with a metal spatula and roast an additional 10 minutes until the crispy cajun cauliflower is lightly browned with crisp edges.

Roasting vegetables and just changing up the seasoning is my go-to side dish. Roasted green beans seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, these Asian Green Beans are so tasty, that you’ll be eating them straight from the pan.

Pan roasting can be quick and easy when the oven is full, pan roasted asparagus is a quick side dish with tons of flavor that you can have on the table in less than 10 minutes. I love serving asparagus because it always feels like I put way more effort into it than I actually did.

Cauliflower Gratin begins by layering fresh cauliflower with a sprinkling of cheese and a light cream sauce. Then it’s topped with crispy buttery bread crumbs to coat each piece and make an irresistible roasted cauliflower side dish that even the youngest kids are certain to enjoy.

Crispy cauliflower, toasted bread crumbs, and nutty, savory parmesan are wonderful together in this recipe for Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower. This scrumptious side is snackable right off the pan!

Crispy Cajun Cauliflower

5 from 1 vote

Crispy Cajun cauliflower brings a kiss of heat to this tasty, slightly crunchy side dish or use the mix to season your cauliflower steaks.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 3 tablespoons light flavored olive oil
• ▢ 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika or plain paprika
• ▢ 1¼ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon crushed oregano
• ▢ 1½ teaspoon crushed thyme
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ 3 pounds cauliflower cut bite-size

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Stir together the spices and the oil in a large mixing bowl. Add the cauliflower pieces to the bowl with the spice mixture and toss well with your hands to thoroughly coat.
• Spread the cauliflower across the baking pan. Roast for 15 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender and beginning to crisp.
• Shake the pan or stir with a metal spatula and roast an additional 10 minutes until the cauliflower is lightly browned with crisp edges.

Notes

In lieu of the spices listed in this recipe, you can substitute 1½ tablespoons of your favorite Cajun Seasoning Blend.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcal · Carbohydrates: 11g · Protein: 4g · Fat: 8g · Saturated Fat: 1g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 5g · Sodium: 262mg · Potassium: 679mg · Fiber: 5g · Sugar: 4g · Vitamin A: 17IU · Vitamin C: 109mg · Calcium: 50mg · Iron: 1mg

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