I have an amazing recipe for Quick Roasted Cauliflower but I first have some things to share 😉
When I rejoined the single world again, my first thought was, "but I'm 31 and a vegan! Who's going to want to date me!?" Considering the last time that I went on dates I was 26 and mostly carnivore, I was pretty sure this was going to be a whole new adventure and I didn't know what to expect.
Those romcoms sure make it seem challenging. First you have to find the guy, then you hate him for a long time (even though you're secretly attracted to him), and finally something happens and suddenly you like him, kiss to dramatic music and be happily ever after. Credits, insert peppy fun music and possibly some snapshots of your future life.
Who has time for all of that? AmIright?
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So here's the thing, I was so sure that me saying I was vegan would turn away a good 75% of dates. The reality? Not-a-one.
In these past months, not a single dude has really seemed to care. Sometimes there were the protein questions, or the "I could never be vegan" statements, and one particularly charming fellow mimed pulling a sausage out of his pocket, eating it audibly, and asked if it would be weird if he was doing that for real. I'm going to go ahead and say anyone pulling a sausage out of their pocket to eat is weird.. even if it was a vegan sausage. Don't do that gentlemen. (Did I mention I like goofy guys?) But not one guy seemed even really phased by my veganess. Way to go forward thinking dudes! So the result: Single at 31 and vegan has actually been pretty ridiculously fun!
Side note: when you tell your date you cook delicious food: they are totally 👍🏻. Delicious food here we come.
It's officially the season where roasting anything is a great idea. Roasted vegetables = good idea. Roasting cauliflower = surprisingly ridiculously good and healthy finger food idea!
I would be lying if I said I didn't polish off this entire sheet of deliciousness all by my self not so long after photographing it. It's kind of impossible not to.
Ok let's get real, I guess technically this is a side dish kinda food, or you could sprinkle the cauliflower on top of salad, but my most favourite way to eat roasted cauliflower is hot off the pan, dipped into my Creamy Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing, Maple Mustard Dressing, a marinara sauce, or just as is. Yespleasethankyouverymuch.
Only 6 ingredients, 30 minutes to make (most of it spent staring in the oven window and drooling), and badda bing, badda boom. Little cauliflower flavour bombs in your mouth.
Here we go! Chop the cauliflower into little florets. Add them to a bowl along with all of the seasonings, and use your hands to toss well to combine.
Spread the cauliflower evenly on a baking sheet, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping once, until everything is browned and tender.
Like this! Omnomnom.
You can eat this as a side dish, toss on top of salad, or munch on them straight from the pan. Compliment with dipping sauce of choice. So yummy and healthy! Can't... stop... picking...
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Quick Roasted Cauliflower
Servings:
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Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower,, chopped into florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- OVEN: Preheat oven to 450F (230C).AIR-FRYER: Preheat air-fryer to 400F (200C).
- Add the cauliflower with all of the seasonings to a large bowl and toss well to combine and to evenly coat the cauliflower.
- OVEN: Spread the cauliflower evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes, flipping once halfway through. The cauliflower is done when it is browned and tender.AIR-FRYER: add the cauliflower to your air-fryer, and cook for 10 - 20 minutes (depending on the size of your cauliflower pieces), stopping to shake halfway through, until the cauliflower is tender and browned on the edges.Serve as a side, on top of salad, or eat straight as it is as a snack. Great hot or cold!
Nutrition
Bon Appetegan!
Sam.
JDR says
I often make this recipe with half sweet potatoes half cauliflower and add some tahini-lemon sauce on top. The result is amazing ^_^
Penny Boylan says
I absolutely love this recipe! It is my go to recipe every time I roast cauliflower. Just so damn flavoursome, it has totally ruined boiled cauliflower for me.
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! Right? So thrilled you love it!
Carolyn says
Hahaha. Has Adam read this post. Very interesting story.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha no I don't think so... but interesting to learn that's basically what happened! Haha. 🙂
Mae says
I know this post is a few years old, but when I read the line, "When I rejoined the single world again, my first thought was, “but I’m 31 and a vegan! Who’s going to want to date me!?” " I laughed out loud because I had pretty much the same experience! I was 29, just out of a four year relationship, and it was the first time I was single as a vegan. My dilemma was a little different though - I just couldn't date someone that was not vegan. It's too much of a deep moral issue for me. I just thought, how many 30 something year old vegan men are SINGLE and STRAIGHT? NONE! They get snatched up so fast! Haha. Turns out, a guy that volunteered at the place I worked at and I secretly had feelings for had been vegan for over a year and I didn't even know it! And now we're getting married this year (I'll be 31). It's funny how things work out! I'm making this roasted cauliflower for lunch tomorrow 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, that's awesome, Mae! Congrats! I'm still single and lookin'... one day! 🙂
Megan RJ says
I had some cauliflower I needed to use up and decided to try this while my husband and daughters were out of the house. I planned to have them try it when they got home to see if they liked it... I ate it ALL. haha. Maybe they can try it next time.
Super yummy, super easy, and super cheap. My three favorite things in a new recipe. 🙂 Thanks again for broadening my vegan horizon. (I seriously don't understand how I ever lived without nutritional yeast in my life. SO GOOD!)
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, right!? Nutritional yeast is the best!! So very happy you loved the cauliflower so much 😀
Srivani says
What a great way to do cauliflower! This was so yummy... even the 2 year old girl ate some. This was super easy. Kinda like Eya's idea of the plastic bag, I mixed the oil and seasonings together in the bowl first then tossed in the cauliflower... I just find that it all mixes better for me. As for the marriage thing, I lucked out for sure... after my last long-term relationship, my only criteria were non-smoker and MUST HAVE A JOB! I wasn't too discerning. But I must have been so good, because the most amazing man landed on my path... he didn't smoke, had a great job and was a long-time vegetarian! WOW! Over the course of our 5 1/2 years together, we have since transitioned together to about 98% vegan. And it's blogs like yours that help me make amazing meals and goodies. And I love making yummy vegan stuff for our carni-family (meat-carni, not carnival-carni ). 🙂
Sam says
Aww thanks Srivani! You certainly did luck out!! Good to know there is hope for all of us single vegans 😀
Jeremy Bate says
Stick with it, Sam - you're amazing!
Sam says
Haha, Thank you Jeremy!
Liz says
This is amazing! I have eaten my fair share of roasted cauliflower but this is the best! I halved the oil and roasted it a little longer and it was still phenomenal! Thank you!!
Lisa says
Thanks for the tip about halving the oil and cooking longer - we're trying to cut out as much oil as possible.
Sam says
Aww that's awesome!! So happy you loved it so much Liz!
Kathy Sturr says
My husband and I ate roasted cauliflower for awhile at Happy Hour to stave of our Trader Joe's chip addiction. We should get back to this delicious snack! Thank you!
Sam says
Aww you're welcome Kathy! Definitely a healthier option than chips, but I so so good.
Biplab Chakraborty says
It is not for me
Kristi says
Super yum Sam! I said this on Instagram too (wait, that feels very stalkerish...I'm obsessed with you but only in an "I'm so impressed with your recipes and posts and can't wait for more" sort of way ). Anyway, I never think about having cauliflower. I have no idea why. It's a neglected vegetable at my house. Not anymore!
Sam says
Haha awwww, I'm flattered!!! You're allowed to be obsessed, it just inspires me to work harder! Now go give that cauliflower some love. 😉
Heather@TheSoulfulSpoon says
This looks delicious! I'm consistently amazed how much I enjoy cauliflower every time I try it a new way. I'm going to give this recipe a try ASAP!:)
Sam says
Aww thanks Heather. Yeah, it's kind of a forgotten about vegetable, but it can be so scrumptious!! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Eya says
A tip for lazy vegans: we could throw all the ingredients into a plastic bag and give it a good shake to coat the cauliflower evenly, leave it in the fridge to "marinate" a while, then tip the contents onto the baking sheet to cook. Now, if only I could find a lazy way to flip them.
Sam says
Haha! Great tip Eya! I too am a lazy vegan... haha
Delia says
In terms of the marriage thing - there's no one right answer. I bet there are all sorts of variations on this theme in married couples out there. For me, I was non-dairy vegetarian when I met my husband. He was not veg but had stopped eating red meat for health reasons. I never asked him to change but made it clear that I could not cook meat so if he wanted it, he would have to cook it. Over time, he discovered I am a much better cook than he and he came to his own conclusions after reading and having discussions and decided to go veg, is non-dairy for the most part (if we are out he might have some whereas I cannot as I have a bad reaction in addition to knowing it is not good for me) because I am and don't buy it and then he decided to give up eggs most of the time. So all in all, I ended up with a veggie husband who chose it of his own accord so he wouldn't feel bullied into it and thus is that much happier. We now have a 3 year old vegetarian, non-dairy son who is very healthy and a 2nd baby on the way. My big message is both of you have to decide what's a deal-breaker for you and what you can live with - and then know that these things might change over time. Sometimes compromises are good for everyone and leave you with the best person overall and other times some things can't be compromised on. You have to fill in the details.
Sam says
Great advice Delia! I totally agree, every relationship is going to be different, and what makes or breaks a relationship will be up to each individual as well. You have a lovely sounding veggie family! 🙂
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
EVERYONE (vegan or not) loves roasted cauliflower! How could they not?!
Just curious, how do you feel about possibly marrying a non-vegan? My boyfriend and I have been talking about it a lot; obviously it's not something we would break up over, but I'm just not sure how to handle that. Would he just cook meat at home and I'll cook everything else and he can add to his meal if he wants? What about kids? Ugh, I guess I'm still pretty young to be thinking about that lol just wondering your thoughts!
Sam says
I know right? Roasted cauliflower for the win.
Are you proposing to me? Hahaha. Jokes.
Umm... marrying a meat eater... You know I don't think I can make a statement one way or the other. Obviously it would be amazing if future husband was vegan, but I think each relationship and the circumstances that surround it would be unique. I'm not for or against it, it's more about the individual for me. That said, I can be pretty bossy sometimes, I can't imagine having meat in my fridge, so maybe it would be if he wanted to eat it meat, he could go to a restaurant kinda thing. Not in the house. I know that's how it was in my last relationship, and that seemed to work just fine.