This vibrant turmeric roasted cauliflower is delicious hot or cold, as a salad, main meal or side dish. It only takes 20 minutes and roasting the cauliflower makes it deliciously soft but crispy!
This is a simple roasted cauliflower recipe seasoned with turmeric and cumin, then finished with a fresh herb yogurt dressing made with cilantro, parsley, spinach, garlic, and a bit of green chili.
It is roasted until golden, lightly crisp on the edges, and served warm with a creamy, bright, and herb-packed sauce.
Roasting cauliflower turns it from bland to WOW. The outside gets beautifully crispy, while the inside of the florets stays soft and velvety.
If you think you don't like cauliflower then I urge you to try it roasted. It's sure to change your mind.
Cauliflower is wonderful roasted plain, but to really ramp it up a notch, roasting it with turmeric and cumin gives it a vibrant hue and packs an extra flavour punch.
It's then livened up further with a quick and easy fresh herb dressing.
Parsley and coriander/cilantro are whizzed up with garlic and yogurt (dairy free if needed) for a fast way to brighten it up even more.
It's delicious hot or cold or as a side dish, salad or main meal. It would also make a great side dish alongside lentil dahl. Turmeric cauliflower is such a flavourful addition to a meal.
Recipe commissioned by M&S.
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Why You Should Make This Recipe
- This turmeric roasted cauliflower uses simple, everyday ingredients that are easy to find.
- The recipe is quick enough for weeknight cooking.
- The fresh herb yogurt dressing adds brightness and contrast.
- Turmeric roasted cauliflower has a satisfying mix of soft and crisp textures.
- It works well as a side dish or as part of a larger meal.
Turmeric Cauliflower
• Cauliflower. Provides structure and becomes tender with roasted edges. Any size works and frozen cauliflower can substitute, though roasting time will change.
• Turmeric powder. Adds warm flavor and golden color. If you avoid turmeric, mild curry powder can substitute.
• Cumin seeds. Adds aroma and depth. Ground cumin works in a pinch but will taste slightly different.
• Olive oil. Helps the cauliflower roast evenly. Any neutral oil will work.
• Salt and pepper. Enhances flavor and balances seasoning.
• Cilantro. Provides fresh herb flavor. If you dislike cilantro, use more parsley.
• Parsley. Adds bright herbal notes. Flat leaf is ideal but curly works as well.
• Green chili. Adds mild heat. Adjust to taste or omit entirely.
• Garlic. Adds depth to the dressing. Use fresh for the best result.
• Greek yogurt. Adds creaminess and tang. Dairy-free yogurt can substitute for vegan diets.
• Spinach. Adds body and color to the dressing. Baby spinach blends more smoothly.
Turmeric
Turmeric is the key seasoning here, giving the cauliflower both its color and flavor.
This root has an earthy, warm taste that becomes more pronounced when heated.
It is also known for its natural golden color, which turns the cauliflower vibrantly yellow as it roasts.
When paired with cumin seeds, the aroma deepens and becomes almost nutty. The herb yogurt dressing adds brightness and freshness to balance the depth of turmeric.
For other recipes using it, try Turmeric Bread or Turmeric Rice.
How to Make Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
1: Cut the cauliflower into florets.
2: Add the oil, turmeric and lightly crushed cumin seeds to a small bowl and mix.
3: Toss the cauliflower in the turmeric mixture.
4: Spread the cauliflower onto an oven tray and roast in a hot oven for 20 minutes.
How to Make Fresh Herb Dressing
1: Roughly chop the parsley and coriander/cilantro and mince the garlic.
2: Add to a mini food processor along with the green pepper, yogurt, cumin and salt and pepper.
3: Whiz until fine.
4: Dollop onto the turmeric roasted cauliflower and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with hummus.
- Pair with rice or quinoa for a complete meal.
- Add to a grain bowl.
- Serve with warm flatbread or Easy Naan Bread (a 15 minute flatbread).
- Add on top of lentils or with Persian Lentils.
- Serve alongside simple tomato salad.
- Use as a taco filling.
- Add to a mezze platter.
Storage, Freezing, Make-Ahead Advice
Store the roasted cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep the dressing separate to maintain freshness and color.
Reheat the cauliflower in the oven to restore texture rather than microwaving.
The dressing can be made a day in advance.
Avoid freezing the dressing since yogurt separates when thawed. The cauliflower can be frozen but will soften after reheating.
Real 30 Minute Meals
M&S got in touch and asked if I would recreate one of their Real 30 Minute Meals recipes using their cookware so I was delighted to try out some of their products, from their own range as well as other premium cookware and kitchen gadget brands.
I made this recipe using items from M&S's cookware. They have a great selection of premium brands and top quality own brand items.
For this roasted cauliflower recipe I made use of M&S's rustic chopping board and painted spoons, plus the pretty serving bowl and heavy gauge premium non-stick oven tray. The herb scissors made it quick to roughly cut up the coriander and parsley.
Get the Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower with Herb Dressing Recipe
Did you make this turmeric cauliflower recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
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Disclosure: This recipe was commissioned by M&S, based on a recipe from their website. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to write Veggie Desserts.
📖 Recipe
Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients
For the Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
- 1 cauliflower chopped
- 2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (divided)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
For the Fresh Herb Dressing
- 3 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh coriander/cilantro
- 3 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh parsley
- ½ green chilli finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 2 tablespoon Greek yoghurt (or dairy free yogurt)
- 1 handful raw spinach
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
For the Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
- Preheat oven to 200c/ 180c fan/ gas 6.
- Cut the leaves from the cauliflower (reserve them for another dish or roast them along with the florets!) and cut the florets into large bite-sized pieces.
- Roughly crush the cumin in a pestle and mortar and add 1 teaspoon of it to a small bowl with the olive oil and turmeric, then stir to combine.
- Toss the cauliflower and turmeric mixture in a large bowl.
- Spread the cauliflower onto a large baking tray in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden.
- Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
For the Fresh Herb Dressing
- Roughly chop the herbs and mince the garlic and add to a hand blender or mini food processor along with the green chilli, yogurt and remaining cumin and season with salt and pepper.
- Blitz until thick (add more yogurt if necessary).
To Serve
- Add the spinach to a large bowl, then top with the roasted cauliflower and dollop on the herb dressing. Enjoy warm or cold.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Eileen K Reynolds says
This was a great side dish. We had it with grilled chicken and ate it outside on a sunny day! Loved the herby dressing with fresh herbs from my windowsill.
Julia says
tasted good and was easy. Great way to use up all the cauliflower in my veg box.
Gabi says
I love how it colored the pale cauliflower with the intense yellow turmeric marinade resulting in an eye-catching, fiber rich meal. It was so bright, so I served it with steamed kale, turmeric rice and a chicken korma.
Jessica F says
This is my kind of meal! My family loved this with lentil dhal!
lorraine says
Made your Red Lentil Dahl and your Turmeric Roasted Cauliflwer at the weekend for a group of friends who came to lunch. What delicious recipes! The coconut in the Dahl added a soothing dimension to my curry and the cauliflower was a fabulous accompanying dish. I shall certainly be making these dishes again ... and again, etc.! Thank you!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Love turmeric especially with veggies! This was absolutely delicious!
Mary says
I love roasted cauliflower, and these flavors were wonderful! I didn't roast it too much as I don't like it crispy, but still really good.
Vicky says
I love love love making roasted cauliflower but never think to add turmeric into the mix. WIll be doing so from now on! And love that sauce!