This spicy roasted cauliflower is a quick and easy dish to make. When roasted, cauliflower tastes nutty and slightly sweet. In this spicy roasted cauliflower recipe, we toss cauliflower florets with a generous amount of ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne pepper for some spice. For a spicy dish, add the full amount of cayenne, for milder palates, half the amount called for in the recipe.
1 medium head cauliflower (about 1 1/4 pounds), cut into small florets
2 tablespoons olive oil, grape seed oil or neutral flavored oil
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon ancho chili powder or use our homemade chili powder, see notes
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 scallion, ends trimmed and finely sliced
2 to 3 lime or lemon wedges
Heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat — lining the pan is not entirely necessary, but this does help with cleanup.
In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with the oil, salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Add the seasoned florets to the baking sheet. Spread them out, facing as many of the flatter edges down onto the baking sheet so that they brown nicely.
Roast until the edges are crisp and brown and the insides are tender, 20 to 35 minutes. After 20 minutes, give the cauliflower a stir to promote even browning.
Serve tossed with the scallions and a squeeze of lime juice.
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