I’ve been on a mission to get my son to eat some kind of cooked vegetables. He used to eat a ton of cooked vegetables but for the last couple of months, he only wants raw vegetables and salad. Now, I understand that this isn’t exactly horrible (he still eats a lot of vegetables!), but it isn’t really working for me. I hate having to make something special or separate for him and it’s much easier to get more healthy fats into him on cooked vegetables than raw.
Since all kids love to dip, I thought I would create a side dish he might be into. One of our rules is that you don’t have to eat anything you don’t like, but you have to try everything (at least once but more like 10x). I am happy to report that he did indeed taste the cauliflower and ate a couple of pieces (progress!).
This simple Italian Roasted Cauliflower is lightly seasoned and roasted at a high temperature to ensure some crispy edges and nice caramelized cauliflower taste. If you eat cheese, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan or even a bit of melted mozzarella or provolone would be fabulous. Serve alongside some warmed marinara for dipping and watch disappear!
NOTES:
- If you really want to save time, you can buy cauliflower that is already cleaned and cut into florets.
- Use any marinara, pasta or pizza sauce you like. You only need a cup so if you are buying some just for this recipe, pizza sauce is a good choice since they tend to come in smaller jars or cans. I like San Marzano or Eden Organic brands.
- This dish is best served hot out of the oven. You can reheat but note that the cauliflower will not stay crisp.
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Italian Roasted Cauliflower with Marinara. Seasoned and Roasted Cauliflower with a Marinara Dipping Sauce. Paleo, Clean Ingredients, Low Carb.
- 1 large head cauliflower cleaned and cut into florets
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup marinara sauce see NOTES
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For instructions on how to easily break down the cauliflower into florets, click here.
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Preheat the oven to 450F. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and set aside. Grab a gallon size ziplock type bag and place cauliflower florets into it, add olive oil, seal and gently shake until well coated.
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Add in Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes. Seal and gently shake until evenly coated. Open bag and pour cauliflower onto lined baking sheet. Shake tray to spread out.
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Roast for 15 minutes. Remove and turn cauliflower florets, roast for an additional 15 minutes until you see some crispy edges and browning.
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While cauliflower is roasting, heat marinara sauce. Serve roasted cauliflower florets with marinara for dipping and Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
This recipe sounds and looks very delicious! I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
Thanks Valerie – hope you love it!
Oh girl you know the Italian heart in me in beating wild for this! It just looks so good! Plus, I’ll dip anything in good marinara 😉
Right? Marinara makes everything better.
Made this tonight. Delish and so easy! Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables. Thanks!
Awesome Gloria – so glad you loved it! Thanks for commenting and letting me know 🙂
Fortunately, my boys all love roasted cauliflower – the dipping sauce is a great trick!
I can’t wait till my son goes back to loving cooked veg Jeanette!
I love dunking things into marinara sauce….one of the best things ever 😀 Cauliflower is so versatile these days, and so fun to see what people come up with on ways to cook with it. Awesome job, pinned! Making it soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I hope you love it Kelly! Thanks for stopping by.
I have the same problem! I feel like I’m being a pill because my son eats raw veg, but I want him to eat cooked ones once in a while too. You make a good point about healthy fats – I hadn’t thought about it that way. Anyway, I’m going to give this a whirl.
I hope your kid(s) like it!! 🙂
I love roasted cauliflower! I usually end up sneaking bites off the roasting pan before it even gets to the plate. Maybe I can be patient long enough get some sauce on there, too. 🙂
So do I Jordan! The crispy bits are the best part 😉
Ooh, yes! roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables. Marinara sounds like such a great dip for it, too–almost like you’re eating mozzarella sticks in high school again, except 100 times better. 🙂
If you melt cheese on it, then yes, totally mozzarella sticks!
This looks fabulous! Saved to my recipes!
Thanks so much Wendy!
I’m a big fan of roasted cauliflower but have never thought to use the florets as dipping vegetables. This looks like it might be really nice as an appetiser for an Italian meal for adults, never mind the kids. Great recipe.
I think it would be a great appetizer Kellie! And, yes, the adults here gladly gobbled up what my son didn’t finish 😉