Cooking for diet friendly meals does not have to mean sacrificing flavor and enjoyment. Make this spicy cauliflower dish with me and see how amazing diet cuisine really can be, when adding a little spice.
by: Elizabeth
Over the years, my husband and I have been on many different types of diets. Paleo, the four hour diet, keto, count your macros, and you could probably name more. Throughout that time of fad dieting, I developed healthy and delicious vegetable dishes that make you more inclined to stick to the diet through variety and spice.
My roasted and spiced cauliflower recipe is for sure a favorite of my husbands, and a general favorite when cooking for guests with a health conscious mind. Now, I am not big into fad diets, but I play along every now and again to support my husband, but also to simply eat healthier and incorporate flavorful vegetable dishes that are down right delicious and make it feel less like a diet.
The spiced cauliflower is a great alternative for a traditional starch dish like potatoes or rice, and it has a big punch of flavor. Typically, I will serve this as the side dish to any meat and will also incorporate a simple kale salad. Since the cauliflower is so spicy, I try to pair it with a dish that is not spicy or is in fact a bit sweet like my sweet and spicy pork tenderloin.
When I first made this dish, it kind of just happened by accident that it was really good. While trying to make vegetables on a diet tolerable, I kept in mind that my husband loves extremely spicy food, so I thought “hey, let’s make this cauliflower spicy somehow”. Cauliflower by itself is a plain vehicle much like rice or potatoes. Essentially, you can make it into whatever you would like because it is a blander dish.
So I took the whole head of a fresh cauliflower and chopped it up into traditional florets. Then, I began adding spice, and I am telling you, people love this dish! My husband who loves spicy food, my in-laws who would come for a Sunday dinner, and even me…someone who likes spicy food, but only to a mild level because I have no tolerance for extremely spicy food. My husband loves it and asks for it even years later whenever we are having a healthy home cooked meal. So buckle up for some extra flavorful spice and enjoy this dish without any guilt.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole head of fresh cauliflower cut into florets
- ¼ cup minced yellow onion
- 3 tbs. Oil (I prefer to use Avocado oil)
- 1 tbs. Chili powder
- 1 tbs. Garlic powder
- 2 tbs. Chili flakes
- 1 tbs. Onion powder
- 1 tbs. Chipotle powder (only if you really like it that spicy)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Per Serving: 4 cups (serves 4) | 110 calories per cup serving
Directions:
Grab a large mixing bowl, tongs, and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, get ready for a super simple, super fast, and super delicious and healthy side dish. Follow the next few steps and enjoy!
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside
- Cut your head of cauliflower into bite size florets and mince your onion
- Toss into the large mixing bowl and add your spices and oil then mix coating the cauliflower evenly
- Spread the cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet and mix around with the tongs
- Place it in the oven for 15 minutes and then stir it around and put in the oven for an additional 10 minutes
The consistency should be toasted on the edges while also not turning into mush. Serve this with meat such as pork or chicken to spice up your evening meal. Seriously, you and any guests you have will LOVE this! Happy cooking!
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