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Skillet-Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Lemon for Two

By Steve Dunn

Published on November 23, 2015

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Skillet-Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Lemon for Two

Ingredients

½ head cauliflower (1 pound)1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper ½ garlic clove, minced½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Before You Begin

For the first 5 minutes of cooking, the cauliflower steams in its own released moisture, so it is important not to lift the lid from the skillet during this time. You’ll only need one-half head of cauliflower for this recipe. Before cutting the head in half, trim the outer leaves and cut the stem flush with the bottom of the head. Reserve the other half for another use.

Instructions

  1. Cut cauliflower into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Cut around core to remove florets; discard core. Cut large florets into 1½-inch pieces. Transfer florets to bowl, including any small pieces that may have been created during trimming, and set aside.
  2. Pulse bread in food processor to coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses. Heat bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon oil, pinch salt, and pinch pepper in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until bread crumbs are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer crumbs to bowl and wipe out skillet.
  3. Combine 1 tablespoon oil and cauliflower florets in now-empty skillet and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cover skillet and cook over medium-high heat until florets start to brown and edges just start to become translucent (do not lift lid), about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove lid and continue to cook, stirring every 2 minutes, until florets turn golden brown in many spots, about 12 minutes.
  5. Push cauliflower to edges of skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, and lemon zest to center and cook, stirring with rubber spatula, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir garlic mixture into cauliflower and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is tender but still firm, about 3 minutes longer.
  6. Remove skillet from heat and stir in parsley. Transfer cauliflower to serving platter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Serve, passing lemon wedges separately.
Skillet-Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Lemon for Two

Skillet-Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Lemon for Two

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Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Ingredients

½ head cauliflower (1 pound)
1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Ingredients

½ head cauliflower (1 pound)
1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Ingredients

½ head cauliflower (1 pound)
1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Why This Recipe Works

Cutting the cauliflower into planks and then into flat-sided florets maximizes its surface area for plenty of flavorful browning. We start the cauliflower in a cold pan and allow it to steam in its own moisture before removing the lid and letting it brown. These techniques deliver roasted results in less than half the time required for oven-roasting.

Before You Begin

For the first 5 minutes of cooking, the cauliflower steams in its own released moisture, so it is important not to lift the lid from the skillet during this time. You’ll only need one-half head of cauliflower for this recipe. Before cutting the head in half, trim the outer leaves and cut the stem flush with the bottom of the head. Reserve the other half for another use.

Instructions

  1. Cut cauliflower into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Cut around core to remove florets; discard core. Cut large florets into 1½-inch pieces. Transfer florets to bowl, including any small pieces that may have been created during trimming, and set aside.
  2. Pulse bread in food processor to coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses. Heat bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon oil, pinch salt, and pinch pepper in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until bread crumbs are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer crumbs to bowl and wipe out skillet.
  3. Combine 1 tablespoon oil and cauliflower florets in now-empty skillet and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cover skillet and cook over medium-high heat until florets start to brown and edges just start to become translucent (do not lift lid), about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove lid and continue to cook, stirring every 2 minutes, until florets turn golden brown in many spots, about 12 minutes.
  5. Push cauliflower to edges of skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, and lemon zest to center and cook, stirring with rubber spatula, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir garlic mixture into cauliflower and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is tender but still firm, about 3 minutes longer.
  6. Remove skillet from heat and stir in parsley. Transfer cauliflower to serving platter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Serve, passing lemon wedges separately.

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