Name: Roasted Cauliflower with Curry-Yogurt Sauce with Cilantro
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients: 1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 pounds); 1/4 cup vegetable oil; Kosher salt and ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 large shallot, minced (about 4 tablespoons); 2 teaspoons curry powder; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/3 cup water; 1/4 cup plain yogurt; 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice; 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro leaves; Salt and ground black pepper

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted to add flavor to cauliflower without drowning it in a heavy blanket of cheese sauce, so we developed a roasted cauliflower recipe that gave us cauliflower with a golden exterior and a creamy interior. We discovered that steaming (in a covered sheet pan) followed by roasting produced nicely caramelized cauliflower with a creamy texture.

Instructions

for the cauliflower

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Trim outer leaves of cauliflower and cut stem flush with bottom. Cut head into 8 equal wedges so that core and florets remain intact (see illustration). Place wedges cut side down on foil- or parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; gently rub to evenly distribute oil and seasonings. Gently flip cauliflower and season other cut side with 2 tablespoons oil, salt, and pepper.

Cover baking sheet tightly with foil and cook for 10 minutes. Remove foil and continue to roast until bottoms of cauliflower pieces are golden, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove sheet from oven, and, using spatula, carefully flip wedges. Return sheet to oven and continue to roast until cauliflower is golden all over, 8 to 12 minutes longer.

for the sauce

While cauliflower roasts, heat oil in small skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shallot and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in curry powder and pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in water, yogurt, lime juice, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle sauce over roasted cauliflower.