Roasted Cauliflower with Chipotle and Lime – an incredibly tasty way to cook cauliflower with very little effort. With caramelised edges, smokey chipotle flavour and fresh lime, it’s a seriously good combination of flavours and a a terrific side dish that can really elevate an otherwise simple dinner.
(Or do as I do and eat this as a meal!)
Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower is just a great blank canvas to do all sorts of things with. It soaks up flavour well, it can be simmered in sauces (like curry), roasted (try this Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower next time), pan fried, blitzed to make Cauliflower Rice or pureed to make creamy low-carb Cauliflower Mash. It can also be lavished with a cheesy, creamy sauce for the ultimate Cauliflower Cheese!
Today, we’re roasting – with lime and chipotle. It is a seriously good flavour combination!
Health benefits of cauliflower
It’s naturally high in fibre and vitamin B, plus it’s got anti cancer fighting properties. Cauliflower is low in carbs and calories, and there’s research that indicates that it contains fibres that helps with weight loss and digestion.
What you need for Chipotle Lime Roasted Cauliflower
Chipotle, lime, cauliflower….and not much else. (Just garlic and olive oil!)
How to cut cauliflower – easily and virtually mess free
If you’re one of those people who are turned off by the thought of cooking with cauliflower because you can’t stand the tiny little grains of cauliflower flying all over your kitchen, you’ll love this method to cut florets because its virtually mess free:
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Cut the head of cauliflower into quarters
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Cut the core out on an angle – this will naturally form florets for most of the cauliflower
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Use your hands to break the larger pieces up so you have even size pieces
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Marvel at how little mess you’ve made!
How to roast cauliflower
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Toss cauliflower in oil (use your hands so you don’t need to use tons of oil);
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Then toss in seasonings (chipotle, garlic, salt and pepper in this case);
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Spread on tray (not jam packed, otherwise they will steam instead of caramelise);
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Roast at 200°C/390°F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway
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Drizzle with lime just before serving
And here’s what you end up with – a big fat tray of cauliflower that’s tender on the inside, caramelised on the outside, with that awesome smokey chipotle flavour perfectly complimented by the fresh lime and a teeny sprinkle of coriander / cilantro.
Look at the gorgeous colour you get on the cauliflower!
What meat goes well with cauliflower
Cauliflower will go with any protein – beef, chicken, pork, lamb, fish, prawns/shrimp and other seafood.
This particular cauliflower dish with the lime and chipotle flavour would be right at home alongside any Southern, South Western, Mexican or Tex Mex food.
Try it on the side of one of these:
Other ways to serve this Roasted Cauliflower
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Eat it as a meal in itself – as I have done on many occasions. Yep, it’s that good.
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Stuff it in tacos, drizzle with sriracha and add a dollop of sour cream = cauliflower tacos. SO GOOD.
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Stuff it inside on omelette
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Toss through plain white rice
It’s just a really, really tasty way to prepare cauliflower with very little effort. Make it once, and I bet you make it over and over again like me! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Chipotle Lime Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower , cut into florets
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1.5 tsp chipotle powder (more or less for spiciness!) (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lime juice (1 medium to large lime)
- 1 tbsp coriander/cilantro leaves , finely chopped (optional, sub parsley or chives)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F.
- Place cauliflower in a large bowl. Drizzle over oil, sprinkle with garlic. Use hands to mix and rub oil over all cauliflower.
- Sprinkle over chipotle, salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Spread out on tray. Bake 25 minutes, tossing once, until the edges are caramlised and cauliflower is just tender.
- Remove from oven. Push cauliflower together, drizzle over lime juice.
- Sprinkle with coriander and serve hot.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
My hat looks better on him than it does me!!?
The only time I have ever gone for seconds on cauliflower. I’ll be making this again.
Absolute banger as usual. Cooked this loads, for my preference the cauli needs longer but this is the beauty of these recipes you can tinker around to your preference. So simple and so tasty!
made this to take to an oyster party where it was beloved as side dish. also made as part of vegan meal for family members, also raves.. I now make for myself for whatever. Do make garlic paste with kosher salt and pounded garlic and add to olive oil massage
Hi Nagi, can I please ask about the chipotle powder in your recipe? Is it pure ground chipotle, as I’m a bit confused with your substitute which has cumin/coriander powder. Do I need to add these too into the ground chipotle? Sorry if the question seems dumb!
This tasted really good, I made this with half a cauliflower and 2 fresh corn cobs chopped into smaller bits. Delish!
antonia
This is a great change from cheese sauce if you like cauliflower. Takes it in a completely different direction. Delicious!
Hi Nagi cooked the fantastic chicken enchiladas with the chipotle lime roasted cauliflower. It was awesome both complimented each other so well
And will definitely make again. Loved how full and tasty the enchiladas were and the cauliflower is such an amazing flavoursome side which will make again so many times to have as a meal or added to others meals.
I’m always so impressed with your recipes they are so well explained and not one has never not been 100%. Thankyou for the work you put in and sharing your talent with us I am ever so grateful. Many thanks Leisa Western Australia xx
Your Recipes are of great excellence and I will fill in the rest asap! Thank you sweetheart 💕
Delicious! Perfect for a tasty vegetarian meal. Doesn’t need anything else. Thank you for bring so generous with sharing your recipes.
Hi Nagi, thank you for all the amazing recipes and always being so thoughtful to provide alternative options on the ingredients. Oh, also your explanations on the cooking method and preparations are really helpful!
I made this cauliflower and the taste is amazing but my cauliflowers were soggy, even though I patted it with cloth after washing it. Is there a good way to wash and dry cauliflowers and broccoli? I saw in your videos that they looked dry, how did you manage that?
Thanks for sharing all your tips and big hello from the Netherlands!
Do you think it’s possible to substitute cauliflower with pumpkin or any other baking type vegetable?
Which chipotle powder brand do you recommend?
Hi Vivienne, any should be fine here – as long as it’s ground chipotle (the spice) and not a chipotle seasoning mix – N x
Absolutley delicious. Perfectly seasoned and the squirt of lime at the end just took it over the top for us. We served this with taco fixings for a chicken alternative or in addition to the chikcen on the soft taco and we loved it both ways and combined 😀 This chipolte lime roasted cauliflower is being added to the food prep rotation ASAP. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hello! Sorry if I missed this somewhere in the recipe but would this be doable with frozen cauliflower that’s been defrosted? I cook for just myself so I just can’t get through the average cauliflower. 😑
Hi Claire, I imagine so – just thaw and pat dry to get as much moisture out as possible. N x
I love this recipe and have made it many times, but wanted to point out that it gives two different temperatures to roast the cauliflower. In one place it says 425 for 25 minutes, and another it says 390 for the same time. Which is correct??
Frickin delish! As always, Nagi knows how to make a side dish a star. Had this with grilled spicy mango chicken and salad. Amazing! And will be made again and again
Thanks so much Melissa!!! N x
I am ashamed to say this but I never wanted to eat cauliflower
, even though I do eat cauliflower rice, and today I made this. All I can say is thank you for convincing me with your recipe and pictures to make and try this recipe. It was really delicious and I will definitely be making this again. My husband also liked it very much.
WAHOO! You’re converted now! N x
I am following your great recipes from Denmark, love everything you post 😋 My question is regarding the oven heat. Here we have regular oven heat or heat with hot air. What shall I use? I always use hot air to make food crisp. But maybe warm for your recipe?
Hi Anne, I generally use fan cooking for all my cooking 🙂 N x
Made this last night and it was so so good. Very easy too. Another delicious recipe Nagi!! Thank you so much for all the amazing recipes. I love to tell my family when they love a new recipe that it is from my friend , Nagi. They laugh but seriously you feel like you are a friend , sharing great recipes.
This cauliflower recipe is AMAZING. I used chipotle chili pepper powder by McCormick, jar minced garlic and dried cilantro because it is what I had. The lime juice at the end was a great touch. It was super simple to toss together and roast and it had a perfect kick, in my opinion. My new go to for veggie tacos!! Thanks for sharing and I love how you incorporate videos!