cauli-fries

This recipe was inspired by an image I saw on Pinterest. In the caption, the “pinner” (a person who pins on Pinterest) said that this roasted cauliflower tasted just like French fries.  If that’s not a selling point, I don’t know what is!  I could not imagine that was true, and guess what? I was right. The little cauliflower morsels taste nothing like French fries, but they are quite tasty in their own right. A nice nibble or perfectly fine as a side dish.

Roasted Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Wash and clean the cauliflower. Cut off and discard the stem. Cut the cauliflower into small pieces.

The florets on the left are too big, cut them smaller, like the pieces in the center.

In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the cauliflower pieces and toss to thoroughly coat each piece.

Place cauliflower on a baking sheet, leaving space between the pieces. Roast until the cauliflower is tender and a golden brown, about 15 minutes on each side, for a total of about 30 minutes.

Serves 4 to 6 as a side

Here are a few variations that I think would kick this recipe up a notch or two:

• Substitute toasted sesame oil for all or half of the olive oil
• Add 1 small peeled and minced garlic clove to the oil mixture
• Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika to the oil mixture
• Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce to the olive oil mixture