Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto is a quick, delicious, and keto crave-able side dish perfect for cookouts, picnics, and dinner parties!
I don’t love cauliflower.
That’s a bit of a weird way to start off a post about a cauliflower recipe, no?
It’s true though – while its heathy, I just don’t love cauliflower. I don’t love the way it smells, or how it can taste bitter. But this Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto recipe changes ALL of that.
Not only is this recipe for Cilantro Cashew pesto that my mom put her own twist on amazing (I can literally just eat it straight from the bowl) – but it makes cauliflower taste more buttery, rich, and creamy than you’d ever imagine.
It is so delicious- you won’t be able to get enough!
This dish is so rich and comforting, and full of fresh flavors. I know you will love it as much as I do!
Just take me to the Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto recipe already!
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, i think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this easy Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto recipe, simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card or click the “skip to recipe” button in the top right corner.
The Best Way to Cook Cauliflower
I’m partial, but to me, the best way to cook cauliflower is super simply in the oven, dry-roasted with just a bit of olive oil or butter and salt.
Roasting the cauliflower brings out a buttery flavor that is rich and not the least bit bitter, like cauliflower can often taste.
Roasting cauliflower is simply my favorite – and it is so easy!
How to Roast Cauliflower in the Oven
Trim Cauliflower Well
Much of cauliflower’s rich flavor comes from the browning that happens when roasting cauliflower in the oven – so having more surface area on each bite of this dish is vital to melt-in-your-mouth delicious cauliflower.
Cauliflower will take longer to cook, and wont brown well if there is little surface area touching the baking sheet.
Trim stem from cauliflower head, and then trim cauliflower florets to maximize area that will brown on the baking sheet when roasted.
This means trimming florets to bite-sized florets – anything small enough to eat without cutting again.
Line Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper.
Cauliflower can stick to baking sheets while roasting depending on how much water it gives off (which varies wildly depending on the vegetable, what time of year it is, what the humidity in your home is, etc.) – so I find its easiest to cook and clean roasted cauliflower on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Spread Cauliflower out on baking sheet.
Give your cauliflower florets plenty of room to roast evenly – if you crowd the pan, it will take longer to brown and cook!
Lightly season.
I dont like to add much to cauliflower when cooking it so the simple, buttery flavor shines through – but do love a touch of olive oil or butter and a sprinkle of salt.
Stir occasionally.
Roasting cauliflower for the best flavor is all about developing a maillard reaction (the browning on the vegetable – this is what produces the delicious buttery flavor when baking cauliflower in the oven) – and flipping it over or stirring it while roasting to make sure it cooks evenly will get you the best flavor.
Stir once or twice while cooking, once cauliflower has browned slightly, so it cooks evenly on both sides.
Don’t stir too often, or it will keep your cauliflower from browning.
This side dish is also great a few days later – it tastes even more delicious as leftovers a day or two after you make it – which makes it a perfect lunch side when you’re on the go!
Other Delicious Cauliflower Dishes You’ll Love:
The Best Ever Cauliflower Rice
Paleo Salmon Taco Bowls with Cauliflower Rice
Bacon Parmesan Cauliflower Skillet
More recipes with Cilantro Pesto:
cilantro pesto is salty, cheesy, rich, and delicious – with a tangy zip from the cilantro. It is SO delicious, I could drink it out of a bowl…. so naturally, I’ve made a couple of different recipes with cilantro pesto!
Please click the links to visit each easy recipe with cilantro pesto:
Grilled Chicken with Cashew Cilantro Pesto
Grilled Corn with Cilantro Cashew Pesto
Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto Recipe
If you love this Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto recipe as much as I do, please write a five star review, and be sure to help me share on facebook and pinterest!
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Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto
Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Cashew Pesto is a quick, delicious, and completely crave-able side dish perfect for cookouts, picnics, and dinner parties! Buttery rich roasted cauliflower with bright, cheesy, salty pesto sauce from cashews and cilantro for a fresh summer side dish that is low carb, gluten free, and completely addictive!
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower, broken into small pieces
- ¼ cup cashews, unsalted raw
- 1 bunch cilantro leaves, bunch
- 3 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane-style grater
- 1/2 lime Zest of ½ lime
- ½ teaspoon seeded and finely chopped serrano chile
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup cotija cheese, plus ½ cup for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add cauliflower to baking sheet and roast at 350, turning occasionally, until soft and slightly browned- about 25 minutes.
- Add all other ingredients except 1/2 cup cotija for topping into a food processor. Pulse until smooth and creamy.
- When cauliflower is roasted, place in bowl and top with pesto sauce, and remaining 1/4 cup cotija cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 258Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 10mgSodium 159mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 5g
Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.
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Crystal Green
This sounds delicious. I like how simple it is to make too.
Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you again when we open our doors at 12 AM EST on Friday.
samantha
I love Cauliflower and pesto, so this sounds like a yummy combo. Thanks for joining the Family Joy Link Party!
Michelle
Courtney- I love the flavor combinations!
Thanks for the recipe!
Michelle
Helen Fern
Pinning!! Oh my sounds so good!Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner link up!