Updated: Oct 10, 2024 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Crispy Baked Cauliflower (From Frozen or Fresh)

Name: Crispy Baked Cauliflower (Indian Spices)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 large head (600g organic cauliflower, (cut into florets)); 1 medium (250g sweet onion); 6 cloves garlic; 1/3 cup organic olive oil; 1/8 teaspoon camu camu powder; 1 Tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional); dash of cardamom; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander seed ((NOT cilantro, but the coriander seed))

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In this crispy vegan cauliflower recipe, we make use of other antioxidant-rich foods, like ginger, turmeric, onions, and garlic, to create an antihistamine powerhouse you'll actually enjoy eating alongside your weekend pizza. This is easily one of my favorite recipes with frozen cauliflower, because it's so simple but still delicious.

If you love this easy recipe, check out my roasted Tenderstem broccoli or air fryer broccoli & cauliflower.

Crispy baked cauliflower served on a plastic container, made from frozen or fresh cauliflower.

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📝 About this recipe
🧂 Ingredients
🥘 How to make spiced cauliflower: step-by-step instructions
💡 Recipe notes & tips
🍲 What to serve with baked crispy cauliflower
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

📝 About this recipe

Low Histamine Veggies: This time of year, cauliflower and brussels sprouts are basically the only low histamine vegetables I can find in the organic section of my local supermarket. Combining it with other veggies makes for a flavorful vegan side dish.

Cancer-Fighting Properties: Cauliflower and histamine intolerance actually go very well together (unless you have a sulfite sensitivity), as in cauliflower histamine content is very low, and it's overall a very healthy food. Not only is it high in fiber and antioxidants, but it's also a rich source of nutrients like choline, folate, and sulforaphane, all of which play a role in the body's methylation pathways (essential for proper detox).

🧂 Ingredients

Cauliflower: this cruciferous vegetable combines with the healing powers of onions to crisp up and form a delicious spiced side dish for your next evening meal. The basic flavor of cauliflower isn't very strong, so it takes to the spices beautifully.

Camu Camu Powder: since you can’t really get the tartness of tomato paste on a low histamine diet, this fruit-based source of vitamin C (the reason for its tartness) is a safe, low histamine way to mimic some of the properties of tomato (a typical ingredient in north Indian food).

Lemon Juice: much like when marinating meat, this lemon juice helps to break down the cell walls of the cauliflower and make it more tender while baking.

Turmeric: this Indian spice is a great antihistamine, adds vibrant color, and lends complexity to the overall flavor.

Cumin: I have yet to find any studies that show it to have histamine-releasing qualities, but cumin can be contentious. It adds a delicious toasty, savory flavor to the cauliflower, however, and nigella seeds are a good substitute.

🥘 How to make spiced cauliflower: step-by-step instructions

Whole cauliflower ready to be chopped for crispy baked cauliflower.

Step 1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C), and then chop your cauliflower into small florets (no larger than 1 inch on any side), and place it into your mixing bowl.

Step 2. Dice the onion and mince the garlic, and slide them on top of the cauliflower.

Step 3. Measure out all the spices in a bowl, then ad din the olive oil and lemon juice. Mix them all together in a separate small bowl, or simply pour them all on top of the cauliflower, onion, and garlic mixture as you measure them.

Ingredients for crispy baked cauliflower in a mixing bowl, showcasing a simple preparation step for delicious baked cauliflower.

Step 4. Toss everything together in the bowl until each floret has been coated with a thin layer of oil, then arrange them in a single layer on the silicone mat (placed on top of your baking sheet).

Mixed ingredients layered on a baking tray for crispy baked cauliflower, showcasing a simple preparation step in a popular cauliflower recipe.

Step 5. Bake the mixture for 20 minutes, then take the tray out of the oven and use a spatula to move around the mixture. Rotate the tray to the other side, then bake for another 15 minutes.

Crispy baked cauliflower in a plastic container, showcasing a delicious and healthy snack option.

Step 6. DING! If it's done enough for you after 35 minutes, take it out now, but since I usually work with frozen cauliflower, at this point I move around the mixture one more time and bake for another 10 minutes to let it all crisp up even more. I like to eat most of mine off the pan initially, then tupperware the rest for the freezer, but I live alone so you do what you need to.

Baked cauliflower in a plastic container, showcasing its crispy texture, ready to serve as a delicious snack or side dish.

💡 Recipe notes & tips

Lemon Juice. If you can't handle lemon juice, make sure you use frozen cauliflower and add an extra teaspoon of olive oil and a ¼ teaspoon of camu camu powder. It won't taste quite the same, but the olive oil will make up for the lost liquid, the camu camu will add some tartness, and using frozen cauliflower ensures that the cell walls are already mostly broken down.

Using Frozen Cauliflower. I've used both fresh cauliflower and fresh frozen cauliflower, and this recipe works with either since the baking temperature is so high, even if there's a bit of frostbite.

Freezing It. You can & should freeze this once you've made it, but if you're working from frozen cauliflower initially, then I highly recommend eating all you can of it fresh, because the crispness doesn't translate well after it's been frozen a second time.