The humble Cauliflower has been having a ‘thing’ recently, and I’m not ashamed to say that I have jumped on the bandwagon with it. Whilst I’m yet to replace my pasta or rice with the ‘cauliflower’ version, I’m a fully paid up member of the ‘bake it in the oven’ brigade. Because, as I have discovered, a brassic oven baked, is a most delicious thing and can be entirely devoured in one sitting.
Brassicas, the family of vegetables that we once loved to hate. Cabbages, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts to name just a few….. and cauliflower. Pretty, white & bland cauliflower.
Cauliflower used to be much maligned as a boring, watery vegetable, mostly because the cauli we grew up with was boiled to death and then smothered in lumpy cheese sauce or served as a pathetic grey mush as part of a roast dinner. ewwwwww. I remember eating cauliflower raw as a child and wondering why, if it was so nice raw, that we had to eat it mushily cooked.
Fortunately, times have changed. The powers of t’interwebs, especially Pinterest have allowed us to share great ideas (and some not so inspired ideas) such as, that oven baking cauliflower with some herbs & spices and oil until it turns golden and a bit crispy is FREEEKING DELICIOUS !!!!
I’ve done a post before on oven baked cauli.. you can find it here..
But this time, I had a huge craving for Japanese food.. specifically Aubergine with Miso, which is one of my favourite Japanese dishes, but A) It’s not aubergine season and B) I really needed to use up a cauliflower I’d bought. So, as we all know, necessity is the mother of invention. Or, in my case, greed and guilt. I can’t and won’t waste food. But I WANTED that miso dressing. So, this came about. And it was delicious.
Thank me after you’ve made it…. ‘
- 1 small Cauliflower
- Olive oil (or other oil- like coconut or rapeseed)
- A smidge of salt & pepper
- 1 Tsp white miso
- 1 Tsp Mirin or white wine
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sugar - I like organic unprocessed brown sugar or honey
- 2 Tbs lemon juice- approx half a lemon
- Toasted sesame seeds to serve
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Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 7 / 220C
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Slice the cauliflower into 1/2" / 2.5cm slices
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Lay the slices onto an oven pan. There will be bits left that aren't cauliflower steak shape- chuck them in too. You will want them! Slick them all with the oil and some salt & pepper.
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Lay all the cauli pieces on an oven proof tray & pop them in the oven.
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Turn them over after about 10- 12 mins- you want them to have a nice bit of browney- blacky crisp on them, this is what makes them yummy and delicious.
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Whilst you're cooking the cauliflower, whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth.
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Serve the Cauli drizzled with the dressing and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
Parsnip Pancake Fritters with Garlicy Spinach
This looks so delicious Louise! I am loving Cauliflower right now too.. I will definately try this. Yum!
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It’s so yum Cornelia! Let me know what you think if you do!
YUM!! I want to climb into this post and help myself to some of this!
I have some miso in my fridge so will go seek out some cauli and try this recipe. I’ve never not heated up miso before so this will still be something new for me.
I do the cauliflower as rice dish with sri-lankan and indian food and find it works really well with those flavours. One particular favourite of mine to serve to guests is a tomato and coriander prawn curry that looks pretty and is so delicious!
I wish there was taste test available over t’interwebs!! Imagine that! I’d never stop eating..
Miso is often used as part of a dressing in Japan – it’s really yummy… I must try the cauli rice. To be honest, I usually get so excited about baking it that I forget.
These sound and look amazing! As a personal lover of cauliflower and cheese sauce I’m keen to give these lower cal options a try! x
Madeleine, The Daily Mark
They’re soooo good. Let me know when you do make them!
This dressing is very interesting! I love grilled cauliflowers and often season them with salt and pepper. Will definitely try out the miso one!
Hi Maggie! I’m a bit obsessed with miso at the moment, so I’m putting it in everything. It works so well with all kinds of vegetables. X
This looks great! It’s wonderful how we’re all realising how amazing cauliflower can be if we treat it gently. I love the thought of miso – definite must try. Thanks for linking to #ExtraVeg!
Love the #ExtraVeg link! Going to look at all the links tonight!! The cauliflower with Miso has to be one of my most resquested dishes from my partner – always a good sign!