This blackened cauliflower is one of the best side dishes you could imagine. The cauliflower is roasted until it's very dark then topped with crispy herbed panko and sweet, plump raisins.

Blackened Cauliflower with Rosemary Garlic Panko

I've been promising this blackened cauliflower for over a month now. My handsome man's aunt (hi Chris!) emailed me for the recipe back in early December. My response went something like, “Sure, I'll have it up on the blog next week!” Aaaaand … now it's mid-January. I'm so great at time management. (insert eye roll?)

Today is all about this blackened cauliflower.

I know it's supposed to be a side dish, but if you put a giant plate of this in front of me and tell me it's dinner, I'll probably jump up and kiss you.

What happens to the cauliflower when it spends enough time in a hot oven to become dark brown is nothing short of dreamy. It takes on a rich, nutty flavor that makes me swoon.

Then there's the herbed panko. It's salty, crispy and full of flavor. Somehow it even manages to taste buttery, even though it's toasted in good for you olive oil.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet today. You guys, please (please!) go make this blackened cauliflower.

Blackened Cauliflower with Rosemary Garlic Panko

Blackened Cauliflower with Rosemary Garlic Panko

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Blackened Cauliflower with Rosemary Garlic Panko

Blackened Cauliflower with Rosemary Garlic Panko

  • Author: Kristen Stevens
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings (or two if you really love your cauliflower) 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This blackened cauliflower is one of the best side dishes. It's roasted until it's very dark then topped with crispy herbed panko and juicy raisins. You will LOVE it.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. cauliflower, cut into florets (from 1 large head of cauliflower)
  • 3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 teaspoon sumac (optional)
  • Sea salt
  • 1/4 cup golden or sultana raisins
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
  • 1 garlic clove, very finely minced
  • 1/2 cup panko
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced parsley, plus extra for garnish
  • Optional: a small sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan or grana panado

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 420 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl and pour in 2 teaspoons of the olive oil, the sumac and a good pinch (or two!) or sea salt. Use your hands to toss everything together well and then pour the cauliflower out onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very brown.
  3. While the cauliflower is roasting, prepare the panko and raisins. Place the raisins in a small pot and cover them with 1″ of water. Bring the pot to a boil then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  4. Heat the remaining teaspoon of olive oil over medium-high heat in a small frying pan. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook for 30 seconds. Add the panko and mix everything together well. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the panko is light brown. Stir in the finely minced parsley and a pinch of sea salt.

To assemble:

  1. Place the cauliflower on a serving platter and sprinkle the panko, raisins and parsley over the top. Add an extra pinch of sumac for colour, if you'd like.

Notes

Both the panko and raisins can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store the panko in a sealed container in your pantry and the raisins in your fridge. Allow the raisins to come to room temperature before using.