Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Yogurt Sauce

October 24, 2016 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 103 Comments

A Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Yogurt Sauce baked to tender perfection. This hearty gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, and paleo main dish will satisfy even the biggest of cauliflower skeptics. A recipe full of flavor and comfort for one memorable dinner!

There is nothing cauliflower can’t do. From rice, puree, to grilled steaks. How about one amazing main course of whole roasted cauliflower coated in a deep and luscious black sesame yogurt sauce and baked to the most tender bite you’ve ever put in your mouth! Wowza to that description of truth!

My favorite way to eat cauliflower has always been raw. I would purposely scope out the raw cauliflower on the veggie platter at parties and family gatherings. Ever since I was a little girl, raw cauliflower has been one of my veggie obsessions! (This girl used to dip it in some ranch dressing too!) But I’ll take cauliflower anyway and whole roasted may just be the newest most delicious way to prepare it!

I think I love raw cauliflower because it’s so easy. Just…break off some pieces to eat! But the other easiest way…roasted a whole head. I’d always read about the soft tender deliciousness that was produced when cooking the cauliflower this way. The key was also in the coating, though. Just cut off the bottom leaves, rub it in something like oil or creamy yogurt and bake. I went a little fancy on the flavors are used some homemade black sesame tahini (just ground black sesame seeds), tomato sauce and paste, coconut yogurt, and Chinese seasonings. Let’s not neglect that fact that’s it’s also roasted right in THE PAN!

I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I took it out of the oven for the first time. I remember it was one of those snowed-in days last winter and we were all in need of some oven-roasted comfort food. It seemed like the perfect time to try out the whole roasted method (plus I had some coconut yogurt to use for something special!) Boy, was it everything I’d read and heard it would be…maybe even better! If you’re looking for a killer hearty plant-based entree to serve a crowd, the whole roasted cauliflower is that way to go!

It would be perfect for those big holiday dinner we have coming up! Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. You can serve it by cutting it into slices or get a little messy and easily break the tender florets off with your hands! O, that black sesame yogurt sauce is just divine! Cauliflower is a bit bland on its own, but with that sauce totally coating it and baked in…it’s like a magic transformation happens in your oven! Another fabulous this about the whole roasted cauliflower? It is seriously amazing when eaten cold as leftovers! I don’t advise it, but you may end up wanting to eat the entire head of cauliflower by yourself!

A few quick notes. I used a green cauliflower since that’s just what I happened to have! Feel free to use a normal one, haha! You can also use normal sesame tahini if you don’t have black sesame seeds to grind in a coffee grinder which I did. It will still be delicious, 100%! You can double up the sauce recipe and heat some in a separate bowl to serve the sliced wedges with!

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Yogurt Sauce