Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

First, take care not to overcrowd your pan; if the cauliflower is packed in rim-to-rim, the moisture will not be able to escape as the florets cook , which will result in soft steamed cauliflower instead of roasted. Next, don't be overly generous with the oil — a light coating is what we're after here.

How long does it take to cook cauliflower?

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed ( 5-10 mins ) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

Why won t my roast veggies go crispy?

The Oven Temp Is Too Low But, they'll turn out soft and soggy instead of crispy and caramelized. The solution: Turn the oven temperature up to 400°F to 425°F. The high heat will quickly coax out all those naturally sweet flavors while keeping the vegetable tender-crisp. Everything will be golden brown and delicious!

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking?

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower?

There are two really simple techniques that bring out the best in cauliflower: grilling and pickling . Dumping cauliflower florets in a mixture of salt and lemon juice for 45 minutes to an hour turns them into spiky little flavor bombs, delivering high-pitched squeaks in salads, sandwiches or the stew recipe here.

Should you rinse cauliflower before cooking?

The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap . This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

Is Roasted Cauliflower good for you?

If you're not into cauliflower, try it roasted. It'll be on your veggie rotation in no time. Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable responsible for helping to reduce risk of cancer due to it's special antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, as well as it's high fiber content.

How healthy is roasted cauliflower?

When it comes to nutrition, cauliflower is a superstar. It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium.

How do you keep roasted vegetables from getting mushy?

Don't crowd the baking sheet. You want to spread the vegetables in an even layer with space in between so the vegetables can cook and get crispy . If you crowd and overlap the veggies, they will steam and get mushy, not what we want!

How do you make roasted vegetables not mushy?

Arrange in one layer. Once the vegetables are properly coated with oil, spread them out evenly across your baking sheet in one layer. If the vegetables are arranged too closely together or are on top of one another, they will steam, making them mushy rather than caramelized .

How do you get moisture out of cauliflower?

The best way to deal with the liquid is to put the riced cauliflower in a covered microwave-safe dish, heat it thoroughly to get all the liquid out of it you can, then drain it . If you have to cook it on the stovetop, add as little water as possible and stir frequently to keep it from sticking to the pan.

Why is my cauliflower soft?

Signs of Rot in Cauliflower It may grow on the cauliflower head or the leaves. Soft Spots - if the cauliflower has any mushy spots it is too old to eat .

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

Published: Jul 23, 2018 · Modified: May 27, 2023 by Anna 239 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

This Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe makes crispy cauliflower bites with garlic Parmesan breading. They are baked in the oven instead of fried. It's bound to become your favorite vegetable side dish!

Cauliflower is my favorite vegetable. When I don't roast it, I make Mashed Cauliflower and my Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce.

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (1)

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients:
How to make roasted cauliflower?
How long does it take to roast cauliflower in the oven?
Helpful Tips!
Recipe FAQs:
More delicious side dish recipes:
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Roasting cauliflower is my favorite way of preparing it. This underrated vegetable has so much to offer and roasting it definitely tops the list. It brings out its delicious flavor and paired with garlic, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs create an irresistible dish. To make crunchy breaded cauliflower bites, you can use one of two methods. The final result is irresistible crunchy cauliflower bites!

This Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower is the best idea for a side dish featuring this vegetable. Aside from turning it into a vegetarian, healthy Alfredo sauce, or mashed cauliflower of course.

Ingredients:

cauliflower - I used a medium size fresh cauliflower head. I do not recommend frozen cauliflower florets.
butter - Not only does it allow the breading to stick to the cauliflower, but helps the florets brown nicely.
garlic - Add flavor during roasting. I recommend using fresh garlic bulbs, but garlic powder works in a pinch.
bread crumbs - I used plain, but Italian style or even panko can be used. If you don't have any on hand, make my homemade bread crumbs. It's so easy!
Parmesan cheese - Adds toasted cheese flavor and crunch to the florets.

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2)

How to make roasted cauliflower?

First cut the cauliflower head into florets, roughly the same size. You can slice the big florets in half if needed.
You can either toss the cauliflower with olive oil or melted butter and then sprinkle with the breading mixture and stir to coat. I use this methodin my The Best Roasted Broccoli recipe. The other option, that helps prevent any breading from falling off the cauliflower pieces, is to dip each floret into melted butter and then into the breading mixture. I use this method in my Baked Artichoke Hearts recipe and it's perfect!

How long does it take to roast cauliflower in the oven?

The time of baking cauliflower in the oven depends on the size of the pieces. If you cut the cauliflower head into florets, bite-size pieces, you need to preheat the oven to 400 degrees F for 25 to 27 minutes, or until the breading is golden brown. The whole cauliflower will take longer and the timing again will depend on how big the cauliflower head is. For an average size head, it may take anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes. Cauliflower steaks take about 15 minutes of baking time.

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (3)

Helpful Tips!

Cut the cauliflower into same-size florets so they all bake evenly.
To save time, you can use a zip loc bag to coat the cauliflower. Place it in the bag, drizzle with butter, and shake to coat. Add breading, shake again, and place all on a baking sheet.
After baking, drizzle hot sauce over the florets for the hot wings flavor!

Recipe FAQs:

Can I use frozen cauliflower florets to make this?

I recommend using fresh cauliflower. Frozen florets need to be thawed and will still have excess moisture. This can cause the cauliflower to burn and not roast properly.

Can I make this dish in an air fryer?

Of course! Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F and roast the cauliflower for 15 minutes. An air fryer will usually cut the roasting time in half. Make sure to not overcrowd the basket or tray. The air needs to circulate around the food.

More delicious side dish recipes:

Garlic Parmesan Baked Eggplant Recipe
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli Recipe
Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots Recipe
Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!