Curried Cauliflower “Popcorn”
This unique roasted curried cauliflower “popcorn” is so good it just might revolutionize your children’s’ attitudes toward cauliflower!
This unique and delicious roasted cauliflower has done nothing less than revolutionize my children’s’ attitudes toward cauliflower.
They’ve never been lovers of the homely vegetable but will choke it down when a chocolate chip cookie is calling their name for dessert.
So imagine their skepticism when I placed this roasty-toasty curried cauliflower before them. They were not buying it. Not one little bit.
Until they finally gave in and tried it (the almighty chocolate chip cookie has a lot of power in this house). And I am not making this up…they ate every last drop of cauliflower on that platter (of course my husband and I helped, too).
This stuff is magically addictive! My boys kept insisting it tasted just like popcorn. I’m not sure that is exactly true, but it does have a wonderful roasted flavor that is absolutely scrumptious.
I had no idea that cauliflower tossed with a bit of olive oil, salt and curry and then roasted in the oven could become something so utterly delicious.
It is nothing short of a miracle that my three year old requested this cauliflower for his birthday meal. Awesome.
One Year Ago: Chocolate Toffee Shortbread Bars
Two Years Ago: Sugar Snap Pea and Ham Risotto
Three Years Ago: Aunt Alecia’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies
Curried Cauliflower “Popcorn”
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
- Wash and core the cauliflower and cut the florets into bite-size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Toss the cauliflower with the olive oil, salt and curry powder.
- Turn out the cauliflower onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes, stirring every 6-7 minutes, until the cauliflower is browned in spots and is crisp-tender. Serve immediately.
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Recipe Source: from my friend Lesli D.
I finally made this tonight, and I can’t wait to serve it again. So easy and yummy. Lots of requests to have it again.
I had some extra cauliflower and thought I’d give this a try—it was fantastic! Even my non-veggie eating family members tried it and loved it! Thanks, Mel!
Mel! (Insert slow clap here) My husband (who isn’t crazy about veggies) has declared this the best cauliflower recipe ever, and I have to agree. It was soooo good. We ate it with your Chicken Curry in a Hurry and it’s definitely going into our monthly rotation. Thanks for helping me feed my family well! My kids know your name and one day last week my 6 year old asked “how do you know your friend Mel?” And my 4 year old said “she’s the one with the good recipes!” You are a favorite around here!
Thank you so much, Lisa!!
My “cauliflower averse” family loves this recipe! I love that it’s quick, doesn’t use a lot of ingredients, and is delicious!! Today I tried using an idea I stole from Bon Appetit. I squeezed a little fresh lemon juice right when I took it out of the oven and it gave an extra burst of fresh flavor that was super yummy. You’ve done it again, Mel!
I made this last night and it was so delicious. I love roasting cauliflower, so I’m always looking for new variations. I added a few halved garlic gloves to this and I gave it some more heat for my palate. Will definitely be doing this recipe again!
This curried cauliflower has become a staple side dish in our home! I love that I can just pick up a head of cauliflower whenever I go to the store and we have a built-in side dish option for whenever I need one during the week. Had it tonight with your Asian lettuce wraps and no complaints from the littles! Thank you!!!
Do you have a substitute flavouring for curry? My husband will not eat anything that tastes remotely like it has curry in it, unfortunately!
Hi Leanne – you could just use any seasoning of choice, really. Maybe a garlic herb one?
I’ve made these a few times now, and they are great! I have gotten my picky 3 and 4 year old boys to eat it as well! Thanks again, Mel.
Just made this. It’s WONDERFUL! I could eat the whole pan myself.
Mel… I have cooked and loved your recipes for several years now and have always enjoyed them, but last night when every one of my non-veggie eating family ate your cauliflower I thought I really needed to thank you! So… Big thank you for your time and sharing your talents! We love and appreciate your recipes!
Oh, wow, thank you! My hubby requested cauliflower & my toddler loves anything curry, so I knew this would be a hit with them. But I am not a cauliflower fan normally and, being 6 weeks preggo, am battling some wicked nausea. After losing a battle with Cheerios this morning, I figured there was no way curried cauliflower stood a chance. I am so glad I was wrong! I devoured this and feel pretty amazing! Yay! Thanks so much!
Hi Mary – I’ve used both and they work out great. The yellow curry powder I buy is usually the Hot Madras variety so keep that in mind since it can make the cauliflower a bit spicy.
Maybe it doesn’t matter, but do you use red or yellow curry powder? I’m excited to try this recipe!
P.S. We have loved your recipes at our house. Thanks for sharing!
I made this for dinner tonight and I love it! I added extra curry, because I love it so much.
Made it for Easter and it was gone in 5 minutes. I put some in the toaster oven as I post. Really love the recipe.
Made this last night. I cut up the cauliflower and put it in a bag and added the oil and the spices and then mixed it until everything was coated. I put it in the fridge until ready to bake and it made dinner prep really easy. We all enjoyed the smell of the curry cooking and enjoyed the vegetable. Thanks for sharing
I just found your website yesterday looking for a curried cauliflower to serve with some Tai chicken, this was perfect. My husband and I both loved and and will be making it again.. and again.. and again! Thank you for the recipe and a beautiful website.
I tried this recipe, and my boys actually ate cauliflower without complaining! Thanks for sharing this recipe Mel! I posted it today with a link back to you. 🙂
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2012/01/roasted-cauliflower.html
I made this last night and it was wonderful! We love curry at my house, and cauliflower is my favorite vegetable. So simple and delicious. Will use again and again. Thanks Mel, for giving me a new use for cauliflower.
I am not a huge curry fan but this was yummy. My non-picky 5 year old gobbled it up but my picky 3 year old still wouldn’t touch it (he won’t touch strawberries though!). My husband and I both thought it was unique and good. Thanks!
I made this recently and it was very good – we are not curry fans at all so I just substituted Nature’s Seasoning instead. So very yummy!!
I love bite size anything so this is something I can’t wait to try. The best thing about it is that I won’t have to feel guilty if I eat the whole pan by myself:)
I love finding new veggie dishes! This sounds wonderful!
New to your blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
I am a big healthnut and am always looking for veggie recipes that taste good. I just made this and my goodness, I really can’t stop eating it now. Thanks so much for posting this recipe. I would never have thought of making this on my own. Yum!
Mel, I can’t wait to try this! The only way I ever prepare cauliflower is to steam it and add cheese to it. It gets pretty boring after a while. Thank you so much for this new recipe – I’m sure the family will be VERY happy!
I love veggies, but cauliflower is not on that list. I love roasting other veggies so I bet thus will be the key. And adding curry? Yum, why did I not think of that! That is so nice of you to give a shout out to Laura, but I agree with everyone else, YOU should do a cookbook. I think your recipes are an awesome balance of easy, unique, unprocessed, something new, and tasty of course! Your recipes are spot on for people who could be on the edge of being a foodie if they didn’t already have a real life, LOL. I love your recipes!
This looks great! I have some in my refrigerator now that I need to cook. It would be great if you make a cookbook : ) I know I would buy it…
I would probably devour the whole pan of this.
Roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite foods, and my kids love it too. I can’t wait to try it with curry (why didn’t I think of that?!). I roast mine for about 30 minutes, because the more it caramelizes and browns the better it is. And add curry to that…I die!
Haha I am not a kid anymore, but roasted cauliflower is the only way I will eat it too! Usually I just use olive oil, a little salt and pepper and some freshly minced garlic and I am cauliflower heaven; but I love curry so this sounds scrumptious!
I have jumped onto the toasted cauliflower wagon too, delish!
Ooh, I am so excited to give this a try! I don’t really care for cauliflower myself. Those stronger veggies (think broccoli, kale, cauliflower) and I don’t love each other. But I have a head in my fridge from my Biuntiful Basket last week and just haven’t been able to convince myself that I could eat it. Thanks so much!
Thank You!
Forget the kids, I don’t even care for cauliflower myself,. Yet I have an entire head of it in the cripser right now and I’ve been staring it down all week. I printed off the recipe immediately and am actually excited to try cauliflower this new way. Keeping my fingers crossed but completely trusting you 🙂
only my favorite veggie EVER. If you think you dont like cauliflower- you will after roasting it.
Mel-I forgot to add that it is so cool that your blogging friend has a cookbook coming out! Any plans for you to write a cookbook? I hope so! 🙂
This looks delicious, Mel! My family loves roasted veggies of almost any kind, but I haven’t tried adding curry. I refuse to turn my oven on until this heat wave passes (heat index of 118 degrees today), but I can’t wait to try this when it cools off a little! 🙂
Looks great!! I am always looking for tasty ways to add veggies to my menus.
We are huge fans of roasted vegetables and the distinctive flavor they acquire. Still, I am amazed your kids love this!