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Charred roasted cauliflower florets piled on swirled whipped feta, drizzled with olive oil and pine nuts on a white plate

Golden Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Whipped Feta

Golden roasted cauliflower florets served over a smooth lemon and garlic whipped feta, ready in 45 minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 327

Ingredients
  

Roasted Cauliflower
  • 1 cauliflower large head (about 900 g); cut into 3 to 4 cm florets
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
Whipped Feta
  • 200 g feta cheese block feta, drained
  • 80 g Greek yogurt (1/3 cup); full-fat
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice fresh
  • 1 garlic clove small
  • 1 pinch black pepper
For Serving
  • 1 tbsp honey optional
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley or dill chopped
  • lemon zest from 1/2 lemon

Method
 

Roast the Cauliflower
  1. Heat the oven to 220C/425F. Line a 33 x 46 cm / 13 x 18 inch sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Cut the cauliflower into florets about 3 to 4 cm across, trimming thick stems so the pieces are similar in size.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, toss the cauliflower with 3 tbsp olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and sliced garlic until evenly coated.
  4. Spread the cauliflower in a single layer on the sheet pan, leaving space between pieces so it roasts instead of steaming.
  5. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping the florets once halfway through, until the edges are deep golden brown and slightly charred and a knife slides easily into the stems.
Make the Whipped Feta
  1. While the cauliflower roasts, add the feta, Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, garlic clove, and a pinch of black pepper to a food processor.
  2. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides once, until the whipped feta is smooth and creamy with no dry chunks left.
Assemble
  1. Spread the whipped feta over a serving plate in a thick layer, using the back of a spoon to create a shallow well in the middle.
  2. Pile the warm roasted cauliflower over the whipped feta.
  3. Drizzle with honey if using, then top with toasted pine nuts, chopped parsley or dill, and lemon zest. Serve right away while the cauliflower is still warm.

Notes

  • Cut cauliflower florets to similar sizes for even roasting.
  • Don't crowd the sheet pan or the cauliflower will steam instead of brown.
  • Taste whipped feta before adding more salt, feta is already salty.
  • Store cauliflower and whipped feta separately to keep the spread from turning watery.