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    Home » Dinner » Pesto Cauliflower

    Published on Feb 11, 2020 by Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD | Last modified on Dec 15, 2020

    Pesto Cauliflower

    354 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    roasted pesto cauliflower on a white plate

    Roasted cauliflower is transformed by spinach basil pesto to make it an incredibly delicious and healthy side dish that comes together in less than 30 minutes! This easy recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

    Pesto Cauliflower

    In an effort to incorporate more veggies into my diet, I'm looking for FUN ways to do just that. Because who wants boring steamed veggies when you can have deliciously flavored roasted cauliflower?!

    Roasting cauliflower brings out such a delicious and rich flavor, which is complemented so well by the vegan spinach basil pesto. AND there's enough pesto left over to serve with whatever else you're eating. Win-win!

    How to Cook Cauliflower

    • Pesto Cauliflower
    • Pesto Cauliflower

    Preheat your oven to 450F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Cut the cauliflower into florets or buy pre-cut cauliflower (that's what I did!). If you're not sure how to do this, this article by Serious Eats on cutting cauliflower is super helpful!

    Then spread the cauliflower on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Toss together until the cauliflower is evenly coated.

    Bake in the oven for 20 minutes (flipping halfway through). The cauliflower should be slightly golden. Remove from the oven.

    How to Make Spinach Basil Pesto

    Spinach Basil Pesto

    I always thought pesto was so much harder to make, when it's actually quite simple! The most important tip I could possibly give you is to use fresh ingredients.

    Combine spinach, basil, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, and salt in a food processor. Process until the ingredients are finely minced, adding water gradually to thin out the pesto. Use a spatula to push down the pesto as needed. And, voila, you're done in less than 5 minutes!

    What to Serve with Pesto Cauliflower

    This pesto cauliflower would go so well with a simple baked salmon and roasted sweet potatoes. Especially because you can use the leftover spinach basil pesto as a sauce for the salmon. Yum!

    Another delicious pairing would be linguine and shrimp, using the pesto to evenly coat both the pasta and the shrimp. I'm getting hungry just thinking about this.

    Of course, feel free to get creative and combine the cauliflower with whatever your heart desires! Tag me on Instagram with your creations - I'd love to see what you come up with!

    Pesto Cauliflower

    Love this veggie dish? Then you'll absolutely love these other side dishes!

    • Lemon Parmesan Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
    • Maple Roasted Carrots with Lemon-Maple Tahini Sauce
    • Lemon Ricotta Butternut Squash Toast
    Pesto Cauliflower

    Pesto Cauliflower

    Roasted cauliflower is transformed by spinach basil pesto to make it the star of your dinner table, and comes together in less than 25 minutes!
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
    Keyword: cauliflower, pesto, veggie side dish
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD

    Ingredients

    Roasted Cauliflower

    • 1 lb 16 oz cauliflower florets
    • ½ tbsp olive oil
    • ¼ tsp salt

    Spinach Basil Pesto

    • 1 cup packed spinach
    • 1 cup packed basil
    • ¼ cup walnuts
    • 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • ¼ cup water

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Mix well to evenly coat the cauliflower. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cauliflower is slightly golden. Remove from oven.
    • While the cauliflower is cooking, make the spinach basil pesto. In a food processor, add spinach, basil, walnuts, garlic, salt, and olive oil. Process until ingredients are finely minced, adding water gradually to thin out the pesto sauce.
    • Drizzle pesto over the cauliflower and serve immediately. Store leftover pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

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    354 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marta says

      May 28, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      5 stars
      I love cauliflower and I love pesto, but I've never thought to make a dish with both! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    2. Jere Cassidy says

      May 28, 2020 at 11:44 pm

      5 stars
      I just had just cauliflower, seriously, however, I was being lazy and just steamed it. It was boring and not good. Now I am looking at your cauliflower with pesto. I will be making this next time.

      Reply
    3. Lesli Schwartz says

      May 29, 2020 at 12:48 pm

      5 stars
      I roasted up some orange cauliflower last night and now wish I had this pesto to mix it with! Looks so easy and delicious. A perfect sauce for roasted veggies!

      Reply
    4. Stine Mari says

      May 29, 2020 at 2:26 pm

      5 stars
      Roasted cauliflower has so much more flavor. And I love how veggie packed that pesto is - makes it so easy to eat a lot of vegetables!

      Reply
    5. Ramona says

      May 29, 2020 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      I always have homemade pesto made and this is something I never thought of pairing. Please don't ask why. I absolutely love the idea, thank you so much for the inspiration!

      Reply
    6. Jacqui DeBono says

      May 29, 2020 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe for a quick and easy (and healthy!), snack or to serve to guests as an appetizer. Pesto with anything is always good, and roasted cauliflower is especially flavourful.

      Reply
    7. Gail Montero says

      May 31, 2020 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      I've been roasting a lot of veggies of late so I need to add this to my menu as it's so tasty! Love the touch of green which makes this a perfect summer side!

      Reply
    8. Alexis says

      June 01, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      I love pesto and roasted cauliflower but never thought to put the 2 together. This is amazing!

      Reply
    9. Julie @ Running in a Skirt says

      June 01, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh! What a fabulous side dish. I love the combination of pesto and cauliflower together for a full flavor side dish.

      Reply
    10. Emily says

      June 03, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      Roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite dishes lately and the addition of pesto is the best!!

      Reply
    11. Lathiya says

      June 10, 2020 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      Never seen a dish with pesto and cauliflower. I'm sure this should taste fabulous.

      Reply

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    Welcome to my tiny New York City kitchen!

    I'm Alena Kharlamenko - the registered dietitian, self-taught home cook, recipe developer, and taste taster behind the scenes here at Alena Menko Nutrition. Here you'll find healthy, and delicious recipes that are simple and quick to make.

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